US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced in a press release that the USDA is to hold a series of school nutrition events throughout the country to highlight the Obama Administration’s efforts to improve school meals as Congress considers reauthorisation of the Child Nutrition Act.
USDA said its leaders will outline a number of steps to reduce hunger and improve the health and nutrition of children in the US.
“With childhood hunger and obesity on the rise we owe it to our child to ensure our nutrition programs address these challenges,” said Mr Vilsack.
“The President and First Lady have asked the American people to join in this effort not only for our children, but for the future of our country. And this year presents an unprecedented opportunity to improve the health and well being of our children when Congress considers legislation to improve the Child Nutrition Act.”
A strong reauthorisation of the Child Nutrition Act is the legislative centrepiece for First Lady Michelle Obama’s recently announced Let’s Move! campaign which aims to end childhood obesity within a generation.
The USDA said it will host the school nutrition events in regions throughout the country where participants will include food service workers, school officials, community and advocacy members, federal, state and local officials, parents and students.
“Reauthorisation of the Child Nutrition Act allows us to enhance the nutritional quality of school meals and improve the overall health of our school environments,” said Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon.
“We must also continue to work towards reducing barriers and ensuring that all eligible children can participate in our school meals programs.”
More than 31m children are served through the National School Lunch Program and 11m children are served through the National School Breakfast Program.
Dates and locations for the school nutrition events include:
Date: Week of April 5th, 2010
Location: Little Rock, Ark.
Who: Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Deputy Under Secretary Janey Thornton
Date: April 13, 2010
Location: South Carolina
Who: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Administrator Julie Paradis
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2010
Location: Las Vegas, Nev.
Who: Deputy Administrator for Special Nutrition Programs (SNP) Audrey Rowe
Date: Wednesday, April 28 or 29, 2010
Location: Orlando, Fla.
Who: Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Deputy Under Secretary Janey Thornton
Date: Week of May 10, 2010
Location: Detroit, Mich.
Who: Deputy Administrator for Special Nutrition Programs (SNP) Audrey Rowe
Date: Week May 17th, 2010
Location: New Haven, Conn.
Who: Deputy Administrator for Special Nutrition Programs (SNP) Audrey Rowe
Date: May 17, 2010
Location: Montana
Who: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Administrator Julie Paradis
Date: Week of May 24, 2010
Location: Indianapolis, Ind.
Who: Deputy Administrator for Special Nutrition Programs (SNP) Audrey Rowe
Date: May 20 or 21, 2010
Location: Davis, Calif.
Who: Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Deputy Under Secretary Janey Thornton
