Oct Prowler

PROWLER News 6 New Food Law Chops Funding: By Ethan Gibson egibsonprowler@gmail.com The 2014-2015 school year has seen a major change in the nutrition standards at Union Grove and across the country. In 2010, The United States Congress passed the Healthy Hungry Free Kids Act. The law was slowly implemented throughout the country and finally made its mark on Union Grove this year. It didn’t take long for students to realize the snacks they enjoyed every day were gone. Some of the most notable food items that have been lost due to the law would be the Chick- Fil-A chicken biscuits that used to be sold in the morning, different chips and candy that were sold in the vend- ing machines, and other snacks that no longer meet the standards set forth by the federal government. “I definitely won’t be buying as much vending machine food this year as I have before,” said Richard Bruce, junior. Under the new law, schools will not be allowed to serve food that is not consis- tent with the Dietary Guidelines for Ameri- cans, which the federal government’s Depart- ment of Health and Human Services issues every five years. Some of the regulations the publication sets forth require all bread to be whole-grain, and call for increased amount of fruits and vegetables in lunches. Addtionally, the cafeteria will only be allowed to serve low-fat and skim milk. Despite the general outrage against the law, some students believe it is the right decision. “I really agree with the change,” said Subhash Tanikello, sophomore. “It’s good that we have healthy food now. I’m glad that they’re trying to stop the obesity issue.” The new law has impacted schools all across the country for bet- ter or for worse. CBS News reported that a school district in Catlin, Illinois was losing $30,000 a year because lunch sales had dropped 10 to 12 per- cent. The law has already cost Students collect their lunches from the school cafeteria. Photo by Jordan Pridgeon. American taxpayers a sum of ten bil- lion dollars in taxpayer funds for im- plementation, subsidies, and summer lunch programs that the law funds. The Chick-Fil-A chicken bis- cuit sales that support Future Business Leaders of America, an extracurricular club in the school, are not doing well under the new rules. “We have lost thousands of dollars in the Chick-Fil-A sales,” said Mr. Tom Smith, principal. Of the many school clubs and organizations affected by the law, one widely noted would be the school’s Special Education Department. The department raises money each year by selling food like brown- ies, candy, cupcakes, and popcorn to support their annual Special Olympics trip. All have been trumped by the Federal Government. “The county used to make 10 to 12 thousand dollars in fundrais- ers,” said Ms. Deborah Brown, Special Educa- tion teacher at Union Grove. “We are now estimating $9,000 in losses.” Despite regulations cutting many school fundraisers, the Special Education department did manage to receive a waiver from the county allowing Grove Grounds, the coffee shop, to stay in busi- ness. “Childhood obesity is definitely a national problem, but it is dis- appointing that schools have to fix society’s woes,” said Mr. Smith. Where have the biscuts gone?

Oct Prowler

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