Michelle Obama’s “Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act” has jumped from the school lunchroom to extracurricular fundraising. This move leaves many school sports teams, groups and clubs short on cash and short on options to raise funds.
From National Review:
The nutrition standards, which cover schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program, do not just determine which foods can be served for lunch in the cafeteria. As of July 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Smart Snacks standard will also determine nutritional standards for all foods and beverages sold during the school day in vending machines and even student bake sales or fundraisers.
Snacks must contain 200 calories, of which no more than 35 percent can come from fat or sugar. Sodium is capped at 230 milligrams. Student groups hoping to fund raise by selling cupcakes will now have to try to convince their fellow classmates to spend their money on fruit cups and granola bars.
The regulations leave some discretion up to the states, which decide how many daytime fundraisers per year can be exempted from the nutrition standards, but the guidelines encourage states to keep these unlawful bake sales “infrequent.”
So how long before your local Girl Scout cookie sale gets SWATTED?
