Gwinnett school board chair: School nutrition change a good beginning
Gwinnett County school board chair Louise Radloff said she’s pleased with changes announced Monday by the Trump administration aimed at easing some federal school nutrition guidelines.
“It is a beginning and I am pleased about that,” Radloff said.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Georgia's former governor, signed rules giving schools greater flexibility in nutrition requirements for school meal programs "in order to make food choices both healthful and appealing to students" the agency said in a news release. The changes dismantled regulations championed by former First Lady Michelle Obama that reduced salt in school lunches and added more fruits and vegetables.
Since 2010, the percentage of Gwinnett County public school students who eat school lunch regularly declined from 81 to 69 percent, district officials said during a 2016 presentation to school board members. Radloff raised concerns about some of the Obama administration rules after the presentation.
Radloff said she wants students to have healthy and tasty food options and, potentially, ways to allow low-income students to take home some food.
“I would like somehow, someway, considering the waste, that schools could be held harmless and allow fruits and non-perishable foods to go home with students who are low income or homeless,” she said.
About the Author
Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He currently writes about higher education and has assisted in the newsroom’s COVID-19 vaccine coverage. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.
