More Veggies, Higher Prices in School Cafeterias

A new federal law means higher prices, and more vegetables and smaller entrees are coming to Madison school cafeterias, according to the school district's food service provider.

A letter from Pomptonian Food Service posted on the district website says "sweeping changes" are coming to the school lunch program and directs parents to its website for more information.

It says the new regulations are part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.

Among the changes:

• Reimbusrable meals must contain a fruit or vegetable, which Pomptonian said could lead to wasted food and will also lead to higher prices.
• Vegetable subgroups must be menued on a weekly basis from the following categories: Dark Green, Red/Orange, Beans/Peas, Starchy, Other.
• At least half of the grains offered in the cafeteria must be whole grain rich, and while the last regulations required districts to offer a bread basket to have extra bread with their meal, they are now not allow that practice.
• Like with bread, meat selections will have a maximum allowable amounts based on grade level, that are lower than the portion sizes currently offered.
• The offering of 1% flavored milk is prohibited. Any flavored milk offered will have to be fat free, though 80 percent of milk sold was 1% chocolate and there is more sugar in the skim flavored milk than in the 1% chocolate.
• Four specific nutritional standards in the new requirements, including calorie ranges, maximum amount of saturated fat, elimination of added trans-fat, and coming in July 2014, sodium limits.
• The State can assess fines for menus deemed not in compliance.

"We are concerned that with the implementation of some of these regulations, including shrinking portion sizes, eliminating some popular menu choices, and reducing the variety, along with the mandated price increases, there may be resistance from the students to participate in the program," Pomptonian said in a statement. "Pomptonian's menus feature a wide selection of entrées and have helped our districts experience tremendous growth in sales and participation. Conversely, as we eliminate options, we would expect the participation level to drop. Many districts have open campuses or parents that may opt to pack lunches for their child so that they may have the type and quantity of food that they desire."

Students might not be fulfilled by the shrinking bread and protein portions, and, and the program might be more burdensome for needy families, the company said.

Cafeteria Prices

The Board of Education approved cafeteria prices, as follows, for the 2012-13 school year:

Adult Faculty Lunch-HS

$3.05

Adult Faculty Lunch-JS

$2.90

Adult Faculty Lunch-Elem.

$2.85

Adult Faculty Premium Deli Meal Pilot

$3.75

High School Student Lunch

$2.50

High School Student Premium Deli Meal Pilot

$3.25

Junior School Student Lunch

$2.40

Elementary Student Lunch

$2.10

Milk

$0.60

Reduced Lunch

$0.40

Split Session Kindergarten Milk

$0.35