http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/schools-cut-cafeteria-staff-kids-abandon-obama-menus/article/2571346Report: Half of schools cut cafeteria staff as kids abandon Obama menus
By Paul Bedard (@SecretsBedard) • 9/3/15 11:19 AM
President and first lady Michelle Obama's bid to cut kid obesity through new demands for more costly but healthier food is financially crushing the nation's school cafeterias, forcing staff cuts, boosting waste and killing plans to buy new equipment, according to an industry association.
A new survey from the School Nutrition Association reported that 70 percent of the nation's lunch programs have been financially "harmed" by the new low-salt, low-sugar menus and that a stunning 93 percent report fewer students buying the chow.
"Meeting these mandates has harmed the financial health of nearly 70 percent of school meal programs surveyed, with fewer than 3 percent reporting a financial benefit," said the survey. Some 49 percent of the responding schools said they were forced to cut cafeteria staff as a result.
The financial threat to school food programs has become so grave that the association is calling on Congress to provide more money. The association said that schools are being ordered by the Agriculture Department to absorb another $1.2 billion in added costs resulting from having to buy more expensive — and less attractive — foods to meet the federal regulations.
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