A coalition of state attorneys general is taking legal action against the Trump administration for its deregulation of school lunch nutrition standards. Attorneys general from California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Vermont are uniting to contest the administration’s changes, which threaten the nutritional quality of meals served to over 30 million schoolchildren. Leading the initiative is Attorney General Mia Thompson from New York, who emphasized the importance of healthy meals for low-income children. “In New York alone, more than a million kids rely on nutritious school meals to support their learning,” she stated.
The lawsuit targets the administration’s rollback of standards established during the Obama era, which aimed to enhance the healthiness of school lunches. “By disregarding scientific evidence and expert guidance, the Trump administration has jeopardized essential health standards related to sodium and whole grains,” Thompson added. “My office will work tirelessly to reverse these detrimental changes and safeguard our children’s health.”
The previous standards championed nutritious, fiber-rich whole grains, but the Trump administration’s revisions have permitted schools to serve more white bread and pasta, which are less nutritious. Additionally, the administration has relaxed restrictions on sodium levels in school meals.
Public health advocates are also voicing their concerns. Laura MacCleery, policy director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, criticized the administration’s “flexibilities,” calling them unnecessary and harmful. Her organization is pursuing a lawsuit in Maryland, claiming that the USDA’s weakened standards violate the School Lunch Act, ultimately endangering children’s health by providing less nutritious options. “This policy change is a significant setback for child health,” MacCleery remarked. “The Trump administration is missing the mark.”
Conversely, the School Nutrition Association (SNA), representing 58,000 members, supports the adjustments made by the Trump administration, arguing that students are not consuming healthier foods. SNA President Laura Robinson stated, “We appreciate the USDA’s efforts to maintain strong standards while addressing longstanding challenges to ensure students choose healthy meals.”
However, advocates for vulnerable children warn about the consequences of these rollbacks. Chef Daniel Carter, Executive Director of the Urban Nutrition Initiative, stressed the importance of nutritious school meals for food-insecure families. “Many of the 20,000 food-insecure children we serve depend on wholesome meals to thrive academically. Weakening nutritional standards is a recipe for worsening educational outcomes and escalating obesity,” Carter said. “We are grateful to Attorney General Thompson for her commitment to protecting our youth.”
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In summary, a group of state attorneys general is challenging the Trump administration’s decision to weaken school lunch nutrition standards, arguing that it compromises the health of millions of children. Public health advocates join the fight, while some school nutrition organizations express support for the changes.