Another food fight? Congress mulls school meal standards

By MARY CLARE JALONICK
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) – Congress will have to decide soon whether it wants another food fight with first lady Michelle Obama and the administration over what’s served in the school lunch line.

Last year, school food rules pitted Mrs. Obama against Republicans seeking full exemptions for some schools. The first lady declared she’d fight “to the bitter end” to make sure kids have good nutrition.

Lawmakers are hoping to find bipartisan compromise on the rules and dollars for the nation’s child nutrition programs before the law expires Sept. 30.

So far, negotiations have failed to produce a bill in either the House or the Senate.

Republicans say the standards have posed too many challenges for school nutrition officials who must balance serving healthy foods with keeping participation up in their programs.

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