Des Moines, Iowa — The Iowa House has passed a bill that would bypass some federal nutrition guidelines for meals served in Iowa schools by getting a federal waiver to emphasize serving animal-based proteins as well as vegetables and fruits. Republican Representative Derek Wulf of Hudson says it’s a critical step to promote Iowa agriculture.
Representative Austin Baeth, a Democrat from Des Moines, says the bill flips the evidence-based food pyramid on its head.
Representative Jeff Shipley, a Republican from Birmingham, says Iowans should set school lunch guidelines.
Representative Sami Scheetz, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says the legislature should be voting to provide free school lunches to every student.
Scheetz says current federal law prohibits the USDA from allowing changes in the nutritional content of school meals and Iowa risks losing 160 million dollars in federal funding for school lunches if the bill becomes law.
