In a Wednesday hearing before the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, the School Nutrition Association’s incoming vice president, Dr. Lynn Harvey, called for additional support for schools losing revenue as a result of complying with new school food standards.
Harvey, who also serves as the chief of school nutrition services for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, testified that North Carolina schools have experienced financial challenges with and student resistance to the new regulations.
She offered as an example the regulation that all grains offered with school meals must be whole-grain rich, adding that after two years of cajoling by local school nutrition directors, students continue to reject the grains because their appearance, taste and texture are different than what they’re accustomed to. “Students’ dissatisfaction with whole grain-rich biscuits has led to a decline in breakfast participation in 60 percent of our school districts,” she said.
She also noted a statewide loss of more than $20 million in a la carte revenue as a result of Smart Snacks in School mandates.
“Compliance has come at a significant cost for schools in North Carolina, and more important(ly), for students,” Harvey said. “Student participation in school meals has declined by 5 percent.”