Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump Administration Relaxes School Nutrition Guidelines That Were A Michelle Obama Legacy
USA Today: Donald Trump Takes Aim At Michelle Obama Efforts On Child Nutrition, Girls' Education
The Trump administration is looking to whittle away at the legacy of former first lady Michelle Obama, undercutting two key efforts associated with her: child nutrition and girls’ education worldwide. On Monday, Sonny Perdue, President Trump’s new Agriculture secretary, announced he would loosen restrictions on federally funded school lunch programs — current rules require schools to serve more whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables to millions of children while limiting salt and fat. The push is part of Mrs. Obama’s well-known initiative to help children eat more healthy meals. (Toppo, 5/1)
The Associated Press: Hey Kids, Salt Stays And Grains Go In School Meals
Schools won’t have to cut more salt from meals just yet and some will be able to serve kids fewer whole grains, under changes to federal nutrition standards announced Monday. The move by President Donald Trump’s Agriculture Department partially rolls back rules championed by former first lady Michelle Obama as part of her healthy eating initiative. Separately, the Food and Drug Administration said on Monday it would delay — for one year — Obama administration rules that will require calorie labels on menus and prepared food displays. The rule was scheduled to go into effect later this week. (Jalonick, 5/1)
The Wall Street Journal: Trump Administration Unwinds Some School Lunch Standards
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the decision comes after years of feedback from schools and food-service experts, who have faced challenges meeting meal regulations; and from students, some of whom have complained that the meals aren’t appetizing. The department said the change “begins the process of restoring local control” over those food areas to give schools and states options in ensuring food choices are both healthy and appealing to students. (Hobbs, 5/1)
Los Angeles Times: New USDA Secretary Announces Rollback Of Obama-Era Nutrition Standards For School Lunches
The Obama administration placed standards on school lunch nutrition in 2010 when it passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. During that time, Michelle Obama was seen by many as a leading advocate in the fight against childhood obesity. She started the Let’s Move! campaign, which sought to encourage children to take part in more physical activity and help provide healthier food options in schools in under-served communities. The percentage of U.S. children with obesity has more than tripled since the 1970s, causing long-term physical and emotional distress for children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Etehad, 5/1)
Politico: Trump Eats Away At Michelle Obama's School Lunch Legacy
The changes Perdue is seeking are not nearly as dramatic as the full opt-out that Republicans have sought — a push that sparked a bitter, public fight with Obama in 2014 — but Perdue promised to look at some regulatory fixes. He said USDA would delay implementation of future sodium-reduction targets. And flavored milk with a fat content of one percent, now restricted from the program, will be allowed back into cafeterias — a switch that dairy producers lobbied heavily to see made. (Bottemiller Evich, 5/1)
NPR: Michelle Obama's School Lunch Rules Rolled Back By White House
The fight over school lunches has lasted years. Even after the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 took effect, Michelle Obama continued to have to defend its importance, as NPR's Tamara Keith reported in 2014. In 2016 the Senate settled on a compromise that would keep most of the new standards in place, including requiring to schools to serve more fruits and vegetables along with the planned reductions in sodium and increase in whole grains. (Taylor, 5/1)
In other news —
USA Today: Overweight Kids Are Costing America Billions
The best way to set your kid up for financial success can be a nest egg, a grandparent's inheritance or a healthy 529 plan. Or, it could be as simple as keeping them in shape. A Johns Hopkins University study found overweight people, over the course of a lifetime, spend an average of about $30,000 more than healthy people on medical conditions associated with obesity, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, heart attacks, heart failure and certain types of cancers. (Rossman, 5/1)
