Tainted meat a continued risk for school lunch
Posted on | February 8, 2010 | No Comments
There doesn’t seem to be an end to the bad news when it comes to industrially-produced beef these days, and sadly a lot of the concerns intersect directly with the National School Lunch Program. Here are SFUSD, according to information provided by a member of the District’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee, we can feel slightly more at ease because our school lunch vendor, Preferred Meal Systems, has systems in place such as microbiological testing at all stages of production from incoming ingredients to finished products to ensure the safety of the food. This is apparently outlined in their bid proposal. They also say they have systems in place in the event of a recall of an ingredient like the beef, to ensure no product is tainted and that in the event such a product did exist, it would be swiftly recalled, hopefully long before it reaches the lunch trays.
SFUSD, like most other Districts in the country, is working hard on the user end to ensure that our kids are not sickened by tainted meat. This is too much responsibility for school districts to bear. The NSLP cannot continue to be a dumping ground for the meat industry’s dregs. With reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act upon us, there needs to public pressure to improve standards nationwide. And most importantly, increased budgets for higher quality meat when it is served.
My colleague Charles Margulis at the Center for Environmental Health in Oakland recently posted this piece on the Generation Green blog. If you are as compelled – and grossed out – by his excellent summation of all that is wrong with beef these days, read the rest here:
Hamburger Helper? Slime, Ammonia and Cow Shit
In our ongoing series “There’s WHAT in My Food?”, we submit for your reading pleasure (though probably not while you’re eating) our comments on a stunning New York Times investigation that exposed how an ammonia-treated beef filler used in 50% of the nation’s ground beef (possibly up to 80%, according to one industry source) has repeatedly been found contaminated with deadly e. coli and salmonella, despite claims that the ammonia-bathed product would actually eliminate the harmful bacteria.
Meat maker Beef Products Inc (BPI) created a product the beef industry loves. Prior to BPI’s innovation, the slimiest, nastiest slaughterhouse scraps were used primarily for pet food (while the fatty bits were rendered for various oil-based food and non-food products). But in the late 1990’s, BPI began experimenting with ways to take these dirty, feces-stained scraps and turn them into, well, dirty, feces-contaminated burger filler…
http://generationgreen.org/?p=661
SF Gate: Corn syrup removed from SFUSD chocolate milk
Posted on | January 15, 2010 | No Comments
An update on recent changes to SFUSD’s chocolate milk, written by Amy Graff at SFGate.com:
“The cartons of chocolate milk served in San Francisco Unified School District cafeterias will no longer contain the highly debated sweetener high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). A product containing sucrose will be offered to students beginning the first week in February.
Berkeley Farms, the dairy that supplies milk to SFUSD, decided to reformulate the chocolate milk due to multiple requests from the district’s Student Nutrition Director Ed Wilkins.
“Indeed there is a great deal of controversy regarding HFCS and its potential contributions to Type 2 Diabetes and childhood obesity,” Wilkins says. “The parents in this district have had major concerns about the additive for several years. I began working with our primary food and beverage suppliers a couple of years ago to eliminate or at least substantially limit HFCS in any products used in the SFUSD school meal program. I am grateful to Berkeley Farms for their proactive response to this important issue.”
Both plain and chocolate milk are available to kids who get lunch in the cafeteria in San Francisco public schools. As part of the National School Lunch Program, the district is required to provide two milk options, according to Wilkins. The district’s Student Nutrition & Physical Activity Committee has said that chocolate milk could be one of the two options, and the district made the choice to offer it.
While Student Nutrition Committee member Dana Woldow has concerns about the chocolate milk with sucrose still having too much added sweetener, she was happy to learn the news. “At least the concerns related specifically to HFCS have been eliminated,” Woldow says. “Just this week a study was released linking Monsanto’s genetically modified corn with organ damage in small mammals. Since most high fructose corn syrup is made from genetically modified corn, this is just another example of why parents are so opposed to this substance being added to their children’s food.”
HFCS is cheaper than sucrose, and so it has replaced sugar as the sweetener in many beverages and foods, from breads and cereals to yogurts and condiments. On average, Americans consume about 12 teaspoons per day of HFCS, but teens and other high consumers can take in 80 percent more HFCS than average, according to USA Today.
HFCS is highly controversial. Some people view it as a nutritional villain along the lines of trans-fat. Others argue that it’s no better or worse than sugar.
The actual research on high fructose corn syrup is fuzzy and insufficient, and a huge chunk of the money spent on researching HFCS has come from companies who make products with the ingredient. “But there’s more science coming out to say it’s an unhealthy ingredient,” says David Wallinga, a director at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. “The American Society of Nephrology recently came out with a study indicating that HFCS consumption increases the risk of developing hypertension.”
But while there’s a trickle of studies indicating that HFCS could be harmful, some experts are saying that the sweetener is no different from sucrose. They argue that HFCS is not poison and that it’s simply sugar in a liquid form. The body metabolizes HFCS and sucrose in the same way, some experts say.
While the debate over HFCS is sorted out and new studies get underway, the American Medical Association has decided that “because the composition of HFCS and sucrose are so similar, particularly on absorption by the body, it appears unlikely that HFCS contributes more to obesity or other conditions than sucrose. Nevertheless, few studies have evaluated the potentially differential effect of various sweeteners, particularly as they relate to health conditions as obesity…”
No matter, many San Francisco parents are happy about the removal of HFCS from their children’s milk. “I do see it as a slight victory,” says Maren Nymo, who sends her child to a public school in San Francisco. “I think its a great chance to reinforce the belief that foods ‘closest to the source, or earth’ are a better option than those that are made in labs. Its definitely a step in the right direction.”
While the HFCS-free milk is a step in the right direction, some would like to see an even bigger step taken and chocolate milk removed all together. “The quick response to SFUSD’s request from Berkeley Farms indicates that our District has significant leverage in the marketplace in terms of buying power, which can hopefully continue to be used to our advantage,” says Lena Brook, founder of the SF Food Coalition. “I commend Ed Wilkins for his responsiveness on this issue and his dedication to creating a healthy food program for SFUSD students. But I continue to have concerns about SFUSD students having daily access to beverages with added sugar. There is a significant body of research demonstrating the negative impact of various forms of sugar on health.”
Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York University, encourages San Francisco parents to continue to fight for better food in their children’s schools. “It’s great that the public schools want to do something about the healthfulness of the school lunches and I know that many people believe that high fructose corn syrup is the worst thing ever,” says Nestle, “but it’s really just sugar and the switch to sucrose is about marketing, not health. If parents really want the lunches to be healthier, they need to work on cutting down on all kinds of sugars and start serving kids real food.”
Because SFUSD is required to serve two milk choices, you might think the district could simply offer 1-percent white milk and skim or 2-percent white milk. But getting rid of chocolate milk isn’t that easy. In fact, it’s rather complicated.
SFUSD is restricted by countless regulations that dictate what goes into public school children’s mouths. USDA sets minimum calorie levels for school meals, and limits on the amounts of fat and saturated fat. Because SFUSD has focused on reducing fat and empty calories in cafeteria items, the meals are now very close to the USDA minimums, and are based on a meal which includes either 1-percent white milk or skim chocolate milk. “Replacing skim chocolate milk with skim white milk would cause the calorie count of the meal to drop below the USDA-mandated minimum,” says Woldow, “while offering 2-percent white milk as the required second choice would exceed the fat content limits.” Again, it’s complicated.”
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfmoms/detail?entry_id=55267#ixzz0ciyLifd7
New Hope in the New Year
Posted on | January 12, 2010 | 1 Comment
Just before the holidays turned our collective attention to food in a somewhat different context, the Budget Committee of the SFUSD Board of Education met to hear reports from several District departments. Student Nutrition Services was one of them, and a group of parents and advocates – including two members of the SF School Food Coalition – were on hand to testify in support of retaining a strong budget for school food .
Nancy Waymack, the District’s Director of Policy and Resource Management, presented a very interesting PowerPoint to Board Members, outlining exactly what Student Nutrition Services provides as well as an update on the department’s fiscal circumstances.
Though by now, our brains are finely tuned to glaze over whenever the dreaded PowerPoint rears its ugly head, I have to say that I was riveted. Three main threads stood out for me and provided much inspiration as I contemplate what is on tap for our work in 2010.
First and foremost, what quickly emerged from the presentation was that we already have data proving that when investments are made in our school food program, student participation – the holy grail when it comes to success – rises. Better food and a well-managed program can be a reality and a win for all. This is great news!
Second, the SNS department spends A LOT of money on labor. To the tune of an average $92,714 per FTE (including benefits) – and we have less than 74 staff to manage the entire food program, at over 100 schools. What opportunities does this provide in terms of the future? Do we need more staff to run a strong program? Can we create higher-skilled jobs with this level of expenditure? This will be interesting to consider.
And finally, our Board members are getting behind the concept of change! Jill Wynns, Budget Committee Chair, asked Ms. Waymack to have the facilities department evaluate the feasibility of a central kitchen. Budget Committee member Rachel Norton spoke about the need to prioritize high school lunch participation. Sandra Fewer, Chair of the Curriculum and Program Committee, talked about creating a long-range plan for substantially improving school food and growing food for schools at schools!!!
Please continue to spread the word about the SFSFC – and join our monthly meetings, held in the Mission the 3rd Wednesday of each month (the next is January 20th). Contact Lena Brook at sfschoolfood@gmail.com for meeting details.
Sign-on letter in support of school food – for 12/15 Budget Committee Meeting
Posted on | December 11, 2009 | No Comments
The SFUSD Board of Education Budget Committee is meeting on Tuesday 12/15 at 5pm (555 Franklin St.) to discuss the Student Nutrition Services department budget, among other items. I highly encourage those of you who are able to make it to voice your support for SNS. Comments will be limited to 1-2 minutes and talking points can be found in the letter below.
This item will be heard between 5:30-5:45pm.
For those of you who will not be able to attend the 12/15 meeting in person, please consider adding your name to this sign-on letter. My goal is to gather as many signatories as possible by 12pm Tuesday, so please circulate this to your school communities as well. I will send this to the entire School Board and to Superintendent Carlos Garcia on Tuesday afternoon.
SEND YOUR NAME AND SCHOOL AFFILIATION TO SFSCHOOLFOOD@GMAIL.COM!!!
Download of copy of the letter HERE.
Please voice your opinion about chocolate milk in school lunches!
Posted on | November 20, 2009 | 7 Comments
The issue of chocolate milk being served at school lunch, like anything related to school food, in seemingly simple but in reality complex. Immediate change is unlikely, but the Student Nutrition Services department wants to respond to concerns that have recently emerged. This presents an excellent opportunity for the SFUSD student, parent and teacher community to voice your priorities on this issue.
I have set up a poll to generate more information about community opinion. If there is a standout response in any direction, the SFSFC will generate a letter regarding this issue to be shared with Superintendent Carlos Garcia, the Student Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee, and school Board members.
The poll will close in one week. Please spread the word!!
What is your opinion about chocolate milk in school lunches?
- Chocolate milk does not belong in the school lunch program. Phase it out next year. (41%, 13 Votes)
- If we can serve a higher quality chocolate milk with less hig fructose corn syrup/sugar, let's keep it as an option. (31%, 10 Votes)
- It is better for kids to drink chocolate milk than no milk at all. (28%, 9 Votes)
Total Voters: 32
Loading ...SFUSD students to Speaker Pelosi: Please improve school food!
Posted on | November 8, 2009 | No Comments
The paper plates are being collected all over the district, and they look fabulous. I am impressed with the thoughtful, cogent messages our students have for Speaker Pelosi. We are planning to deliver them en masse in early December. Stay tuned for more information! And in the meantime, here is a sampling of paper plates from students at Rooftop Elementary.
SFUSD Salad Bar Program Evaluation
Posted on | October 23, 2009 | 2 Comments
The SFUSD salad bar program was created in response to several high priority issues. The program was funded by the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families and the Mayor’s Office. Salad bars were rolled out at 25 schools during the 2007-2008 school year, including eight elementary schools, six middle schools, and six high schools. An evaluation of the salad bar program was conducted recently, as a joint effort across several agencies and non-governmental organizations.
For those interested in learning more about SFUSD’s salad bar program, the project evaluation can be downloaded here.
Compliance issues with SFUSD School Lunch Program
Posted on | October 21, 2009 | No Comments
“Since April, the school district has had to pony up the $1.5 million monthly cost of the lunch program for low-income students after state inspectors on a surprise visit found violations they deemed so serious and recurring that they cut off the flow of federal reimbursements.”
Today’s SF Chronicle (and sfgate.com) brought attention to the fact that SFUSD has been cited for serious violations of the National School Lunch Program, enough so that federal reimbursement has been withheld for six months. From where I sit, this is a sympton of a decades long decline in investment in this program, in combination with what appear to arcane and arbitrary rules put forth by the program architects at the USDA. I am hoping that when inspectors return to our schools this fall, they will find us back in compliance and reinstate reimbursements. And that this experience sparks the much needed culture change around food at SFUSD.
You can find the article here.
What do you think? What can parents do to help?
“Paper Plates for Pelosi” – Great Start!
Posted on | October 20, 2009 | 1 Comment
Our Paper Plates for Pelosi campaign is off to a great start, with close to 20 schools participating! I am really excited to show Speaker Pelosi how strongly SFUSD students feel about healthy, fresh food at school. More and more evidence emerges nearly daily about the need for both reform of the program and a substantially greater allocation of resource. Thank you to all the volunteers, and parent coordinators!
Keep spreading the word and supporting the teachers, principals and garden coordinators who are making idea a reality!
We are planning to collect the decorated plates during the week of November 9th. Stay tuned for more details.
The following schools are working on Paper Plates for Pelosi:
Buena Vista; Monroe; Rooftop; Grattan; Flynn; Sunset; RL Stevenson; Ulloa; Francis Scott Key; Commodore Sloat; Fairmount; Jefferson; McKinley; Sunnyside; Creative Arts Charter; Miraloma; Claremont; Argonne; John Yehall Chin;
Paper Plates for Pelosi Campaign
Posted on | September 29, 2009 | No Comments
Volunteer to become a school coordinator for SFSFC’s inaugural campaign, Paper Plates for Pelosi!
The message and the task are simple.
This year (or early next), Congress will decide how much money to allocate to the National School Lunch Program. More money means better food for kids, plain and simple. Our goal is to remind Speaker Nancy Pelosi how much her leadership on this issue count. We know that children deserve improved school food in order to be healthy and to be better students. What better messengers than the kids themselves?
Parents! Circulate the attached flyer to teachers at your school and request that they do a classroom art activity decorating a paper plate with two simple messages to Speaker Pelosi. Any teacher who submits entries from 15 or more students will be entered into a drawing to win a $75 VISA gift card.
Teachers! Make this paper plate art and letter-writing project a classroom activity. Ask all of your students to let Speaker Pelosi know how important healthier food is to their education.
All plates need to be returned to the school coordinator by November 6, 2009.
The top 13 entries – our Baker’s Dozen – will be turned into a poster and sent to California’s Congressional delegation, First Lady Michelle Obama, and President Obama! All paper plates will be hand-delivered to Speaker Pelosi’s Distirct Office in San Francisco.
Thanks to those who have already volunteered:
Naomi Fiss, Buena Vista; Heidi Kooy, Monroe; Meesha Halm, Rooftop; Monica Bhagwan, Flynn; Teri Olle, Grattan; Darrow VW, Sunset, RL Stevenson, Ulloa, FS Key; Joyce Baranowska, Commodore Sloat; Bradee Evans, Fairmount; Wona Miniati, Jefferson; Katharine Yousefi/Sheila Cahill, Sunnyside; Ellen Hintz-Shimabukuro, Creative Arts Charter; Meryl Bennan/Catherine Dauer, Miraloma; Stelly Kuo, Clarendon.
Contact Lena Brook at sfschoolfood@gmail.com for more information, to volunteer and receive paper plates for your school!