A provision included in the $1.1-trillion spending bill Congress passed last week and which is now headed to the president’s desk prevents poultry processed in China from being used in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program (
Continue Reading Spending Bill Bans ‘Chinese Chicken’ From Federal Meal Programs

School nutrition standards were the central focus of Thursday’s House Appropriations Committee markup. Democrats attempted to remove a provision from the agriculture appropriations bill that will give certain schools a waiver on compliance with nutrition standards. After an hour of debate, the amendment introduced by the subcommittee’s ranking member,
Continue Reading Chinese Chicken, Horse Slaughter Amendments Added to House Ag Appropriations Bill

On Wednesday, Bettina Siegel, author of The Lunch Tray blog, published an article entitled, “USDA Misinforms Parents About Chinese-Processed Chicken in School Meats.” In response, USDA has posted a clarification on its blog that all the chicken it provides to school lunches is domestic. “Schools that participate in
Continue Reading USDA Responds to Charges of Misleading Parents on Chinese Chicken in School Lunches

This editorial was originally published Sept. 25 on The Lunch Tray. On August 30, the USDA announced that it will allow four Chinese facilities to process poultry raised and slaughtered in the United States, Chile or Canada, and then export the cooked poultry products back into the United States.  
Continue Reading USDA Misinforms Parents About Chinese-Processed Chicken in School Meals