Legislators Vote to Allow Schools to Opt Out of White House Nutrition Guidelines

On Thursday the House Appropriations Committee passed an agriculture budget bill that would allow schools to opt out of the current nutritional guidelines passed in 2012. Michelle Obama isn't too happy with the committee ruling.

Childhood obesity is a national issue as well as a global one. The nutrition guidelines established in 2012 were passed in order to combat childhood obesity, requiring cafeterias in schools across the nation to serve healthier breakfast and lunch foods. About 32 million children are enrolled in meal programs each day thanks to the 2012 guidelines.

But a 31 to 18 vote could hamper the current state of affairs. Congressional members of the House Appropriations Committee passed a budget bill on Thursday that would allow schools across the nation to disregard these guidelines. Those who voted for the bill containing this provision are citing fiscal reasons for their decision.

"Everyone supports healthy meals for children," said Representative Robert Aderholt of Alabama, in this New York Times article. "But the bottom line is that schools are finding it's too much, too quick."

"This waiver gives schools an out, saying you don't have to do healthy school meals if it's hard," said Representative Sam Farr of California.

Michelle Obama is livid about this ruling, telling GOP members that it's unacceptable to play politics with kids' health. This was the first time she immersed herself in policy decisions since 2010 when she lobbied for a child nutrition law. She asked the Appropriations Committee to reconsider and to determine a better way to respond to school's struggling in keeping up with the nutrition guidelines.

The Obama Administration and health experts, especially the School Nutrition Association, urge that this measure would affect the progress that needs to be made for children who are at risk of developing high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure. They believe that congress needs to help the struggling schools rather than give them the option of doing away with the guidelines.

More nutrition changes are expected this year, including limits on sodium and requirements for more whole grains, but these remain a challenge. The agriculture budget bill still needs to be approved by the House of Representatives as well as the Senate, so it's likely opponents will keep fighting for its revision.