[tallblondes]

DD arrived home today to let me know she is no longer allowed to have salt with her lunch. When she asked about it, she was told there is a federal law now against it. *record scratch sound* So let me get this straight. The federal government stays out of curriculum and other local school issues, but they won't let her salt her food? Really?!?!?!

So I googled tonight. I don't see ANY indication of it being against the law to provide students with a packet of salt. I see where there are new standards to try to provide more fresh fruit to reduce the sodium in the processed foods they are being fed. DD just wants a little salt on her SALAD, though. Give me a break.

Okay. I vented. Has anyone else heard about this? Fortunately I have salt packets I can send with her, but am I the only one who thinks this is reallllllllly strange? Is it just Georgia...or Paulding who have interpreted this as a federal law?

[mysterious]

I haven't heard it, but it doesn't surprise me.

The government is getting their hands into everybodys business.

[Mrs G]

Maybe this is a piss poor excuse of a "small budget cut"?
Everyone is grasping at straws now. Nit picking at everything to try and cut where they can.

[shoes116]

I would say it's more likely to do with the new nutrition 'guidelines' that schools are supposed to follow. I know that fat/calories are taken into account in school lunches/items for snack/etc., so I wouldn't be surprised if sodium was something that they are looking at as well.

[TwoKidCircus]

I wonder if this is a result of the new nutritional standards in school lunches.

[Chelle]

I know that my kids said that they weren't given salt packets in elementary school, which I can understand, because I can see a kindergartner dumping too much on a small portion of food and being unable to eat it. My new middle schooler is happy because they have been able to get salt... he loves grits, but not so much without salt. I'm the same way.

[tallblondes]

Chelle, on 23 August 2011 - 09:31 PM, said:

I know that my kids said that they weren't given salt packets in elementary school, which I can understand, because I can see a kindergartner dumping too much on a small portion of food and being unable to eat it. My new middle schooler is happy because they have been able to get salt... he loves grits, but not so much without salt. I'm the same way.

Is he still getting salt this week? This seems to be a change in the last few days. As for the new guidelines, they only suggest replacing processed foods with more fresh fruits and vegetables which would result in a reduction in sodium. I couldn't find anything in them forbidding salt packets. I think it's a budget thing, but if that's the case, then just put it out there. Why tell the students the federal government won't let them salt their food when it's not true?!

[NC-17]

tallblondes, on 23 August 2011 - 09:40 PM, said:

Is he still getting salt this week? This seems to be a change in the last few days. As for the new guidelines, they only suggest replacing processed foods with more fresh fruits and vegetables which would result in a reduction in sodium. I couldn't find anything in them forbidding salt packets. I think it's a budget thing, but if that's the case, then just put it out there. Why tell the students the federal government won't let them salt their food when it's not true?!

I would suggest calling the school tomorrow, and asking whether the salt thing is a law, or a policy. you may have to talk to someone in the cafeteria.

[zoocrew]

tallblondes, on 23 August 2011 - 09:06 PM, said:

DD arrived home today to let me know she is no longer allowed to have salt with her lunch. When she asked about it, she was told there is a federal law now against it. *record scratch sound* So let me get this straight. The federal government stays out of curriculum and other local school issues, but they won't let her salt her food? Really?!?!?!

So I googled tonight. I don't see ANY indication of it being against the law to provide students with a packet of salt. I see where there are new standards to try to provide more fresh fruit to reduce the sodium in the processed foods they are being fed. DD just wants a little salt on her SALAD, though. Give me a break.

Okay. I vented. Has anyone else heard about this? Fortunately I have salt packets I can send with her, but am I the only one who thinks this is reallllllllly strange? Is it just Georgia...or Paulding who have interpreted this as a federal law?

Someone either was pulling her leg or was pulling a reason out of their butt. There is no law about salt. There may be a policy but there is no law.

[mysterious]

zoocrew, on 23 August 2011 - 09:57 PM, said:

Someone either was pulling her leg or was pulling a reason out of their butt. There is no law about salt. There may be a policy but there is no law.

Thank you.
Don't we have a lunch room lady on Pcom? Maybe she can be honest with us.

[gog8tors]

I think the only place that stupid law is in NY. They are getting as bad as Cali.

[champsbbcoach]

It would be awesome if every parent with school children would send their kids to school tomorrow with salt in their school bags, with a note saying they wanted their child to use at lunch. That would be the bomb.

[smb90]

I remember when I was in Middle and High School, they kept threatening to take away the salt because a bunch of idiots where putting salt on their skin and then putting ice on it and making 'chemical burns' on them as a way to try to go home. >.<

[WebsterMOM]

We were told that we were not allow to give out individual salt packets. We were told it was a federal law. It all has to do with Michele Obamas new healthy eating plan. That is what we were told.


Googled Michelle OBama salt and found this................


The first lady's campaign, called "Let's Move," is likely to spark changes in the food industry. On Tuesday, beverage companies including Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc. said they would post calorie counts on the front of their containers by the end of 2012. School cafeteria suppliers including Sodexo Inc. pledged to double the amount of produce they serve in schools over the next decade and reduce sugar, fat and salt in their offerings.


(edited to add what I googled)

This post has been edited by WebsterMOM: 24 August 2011 - 04:42 AM

[jigglypuff]

This lack of salt is a result of new nutrition guidelines coming down from the Federal government. They have not gone into full effect yet but, they are coming. The nutrition department is only doing what has been mandadated to us.As the changes are given to us we are working to stay within the guidlelines to make a smooth transaction. Expect other changes to come also. We don't know what all they are yet even. I can see no reason why the lunch ladies would lie to a child. I'm sorry if there are problems with your child not having salt but, I can assure you it isn't something that we as nutrition workers have any control over.

Thanks

[WebsterMOM]

jigglypuff, on 24 August 2011 - 04:40 AM, said:

This lack of salt is a result of new nutrition guidelines coming down from the Federal government. They have not gone into full effect yet but, they are coming. The nutrition department is only doing what has been mandadated to us.As the changes are given to us we are working to stay within the guidlelines to make a smooth transaction. Expect other changes to come also. We don't know what all they are yet even. I can see no reason why the lunch ladies would lie to a child. I'm sorry if there are problems with your child not having salt but, I can assure you it isn't something that we as nutrition workers have any control over.

Thanks

I agree we lunchroom workers would never lie to a child!

[Garden Girl]

tallblondes, on 23 August 2011 - 09:06 PM, said:

DD arrived home today to let me know she is no longer allowed to have salt with her lunch. When she asked about it, she was told there is a federal law now against it. *record scratch sound* So let me get this straight. The federal government stays out of curriculum and other local school issues, but they won't let her salt her food? Really?!?!?!

So I googled tonight. I don't see ANY indication of it being against the law to provide students with a packet of salt. I see where there are new standards to try to provide more fresh fruit to reduce the sodium in the processed foods they are being fed. DD just wants a little salt on her SALAD, though. Give me a break.

Okay. I vented. Has anyone else heard about this? Fortunately I have salt packets I can send with her, but am I the only one who thinks this is reallllllllly strange? Is it just Georgia...or Paulding who have interpreted this as a federal law?

The school at last look purchased all thier food from u.s. foods, you would really be surprised at how much sodium is in the food that they serve,anyhoo I heard this too from a high schooler that is very addicted to too much salt and he packs a salt and pepper shaker in his pocket now for lunch.LOL

[Animal]

Last year they were doing away with ketchup in those packets,then give out condoms. Cost saving.

[fishnthec]

I would have to take salt with me for breakfast. Those grits always need salt.

[CarolineElizabeth]

If I had a say . I say it is byos - bring your own salt rule. Then if you want it you can bring it but most won't so it is a win win for everyone nothing wrong with making fat America schools a bit healthier. Some kids can't control it.

Animal, on 24 August 2011 - 05:45 AM, said:

Last year they were doing away with ketchup in those packets,then give out condoms. Cost saving.

Lol that has to be the truth.

[LPPT]

I am thrilled with the effort to teach children nutrition in school if it goes beyond the stupid pyramid.
They don't need to take away salt but change the salt to sea salt, I will not go into why people can research on their own.

Many fresh foods need salt to be palatable, so I don't think it will work long term.
I have been upset for a long time about the schools serving chicken nuggets and pizza.

When I was growing up we had very nutritional foods served, beans, potatoes, corn, fresh fruit, raw veggies ect. We did not have the choice processed foods that mimicked fast foods.

Did we like everything, no but we were offered nutritional wholesome food.

Children need to learn food values along with changing their school diets. They need to learn about micro nutrients and chemicals and how they effect the body long term.

They need to learn that pizza and chips are a treat not a staple food in the diet.

I know people will get angry because Americans are very emotional about food.
Every thing that goes in our mouth has to be all that. The flavor that most people crave is the combination of excessive amount of sugar, salt, and fat. A steady diet of this causes most other foods to taste bland to them.

It is profoundly sad that many children are over weight and have no idea how they got that way. They think they eat too much.

This usually is not the truth, it is what they eat and in what portions that cause the problem.

I will support the program as long as true education goes along with.
If they are just going take a way salt and soda then they are defeating the purpose of the program.

Children need to be taught real nutrition not just what to eat but how and why.
Parents need to support the program as much as possible and not pass on the feelings of being deprived if you can't eat any and all of your favorite foods every day.

I know this is going to make me unpopular with quite few people, children deserve this education to give themselves a sense of control over their health and weight.

Let me go on the record as saying I don't approve of the no salt thing, reducing it is a better choice on this issue, moderation works long term. We want to teach diet moderation not deprivation, because it simply will not work.

[jmd]

Dictatorship at its best. This is the change we all wanted. I guess no one can think for themselves anymore...we have to have someone tell us what to eat...what to buy...even how to label our own products

[LPPT]

jmd, on 24 August 2011 - 06:19 AM, said:

Dictatorship at its best. This is the change we all wanted. I guess no one can think for themselves anymore...we have to have someone tell us what to eat...what to buy...even how to label our own products

Actually most people have little or no education about food and nutrients that is not provided by food commercials. It does no good to read labels unless you understand how those ingredients and chemicals work in the human body.

I believe kids should be given a chance to control their physical destiny, education is the only way to empower them to do so.

Almost every child in our control will choose a slice of pizza over a serving of broccoli sprinkled with a little salt and cheese. That choice shapes their future, and not in a positive way.

[jmd]

LPPT, on 24 August 2011 - 06:26 AM, said:

Actually most people have little or no education about food and nutrients that is not provided by food commercials. It does no good to read labels unless you understand how those ingredients and chemicals work in the human body.

I believe kids should be given a chance to control their physical destiny, education is the only way to empower them to do so.

Almost every child in our control will choose a slice of pizza over a serving of broccoli sprinkled with a little salt and cheese. That choice shapes their future, and not in a positive way.

It actually should be taught at home not the federal government. If a child can't eat a food cause it tastes bad without salt, then they skip the meal and pay for the snacks. Being alot do sports and athletics, salt is good for that. Many will not eat it or bring their own salt. Lets see if the meal sales go down in the cafeteria because of this. And what child reads a can of coke to see what is inside it?

[LPPT]

jmd, on 24 August 2011 - 06:37 AM, said:

It actually should be taught at home not the federal government. If a child can't eat a food cause it tastes bad without salt, then they skip the meal and pay for the snacks. Being alot do sports and athletics, salt is good for that. Many will not eat it or bring their own salt. Lets see if the meal sales go down in the cafeteria because of this. And what child reads a can of coke to see what is inside it?

A child deserves to know how every ingredient on that label will effect their body and they are not going to learn that in most homes.

[TwoKidCircus]

LPPT, on 24 August 2011 - 06:56 AM, said:

A child deserves to know how every ingredient on that label will effect their body and they are not going to learn that in most homes.

Do you actually thing schools have enough time and resources to teach kids this?! They don't have enough time for state-mandated curriculum.

[tallblondes]

jigglypuff, on 24 August 2011 - 04:40 AM, said:

This lack of salt is a result of new nutrition guidelines coming down from the Federal government. They have not gone into full effect yet but, they are coming. The nutrition department is only doing what has been mandadated to us.As the changes are given to us we are working to stay within the guidlelines to make a smooth transaction. Expect other changes to come also. We don't know what all they are yet even. I can see no reason why the lunch ladies would lie to a child. I'm sorry if there are problems with your child not having salt but, I can assure you it isn't something that we as nutrition workers have any control over.

Thanks

I read them - it does NOT say to eliminate salt packets for salting fresh food!!!!!!! It talks about reducing sodium by offering more fresh food! This has NOT been mandated by federal law. If I'm wrong, please cite a source so I can research more.

[fishnthec]

I find it funny that they are taking the salt packets away in an attempt to help the children eat healthier, but in the high school cafeterias there are multiple snack machines full of candy, chips, sodas, etc. The only thing that is going to happen is the kids are going to buy less of the healthier option and more of the unhealthy snack foods. Not to mention the poor ladies who work in the cafeteria are going to be getting griped at constantly for something that is out of their control.

But on the bright side...the high schools make lots of money off those snack machines...that's why they are still there.

[tallblondes]

fishnthec, on 24 August 2011 - 07:29 AM, said:

I find it funny that they are taking the salt packets away in an attempt to help the children eat healthier, but in the high school cafeterias there are multiple snack machines full of candy, chips, sodas, etc. The only thing that is going to happen is the kids are going to buy less of the healthier option and more of the unhealthy snack foods. Not to mention the poor ladies who work in the cafeteria are going to be getting griped at constantly for something that is out of their control.

But on the bright side...the high schools make lots of money off those snack machines...that's why they are still there.

exactly.

[mrshoward]

http://www.scientifi...the-war-on-salt

[Lady Raider]

fishnthec, on 24 August 2011 - 07:29 AM, said:

I find it funny that they are taking the salt packets away in an attempt to help the children eat healthier, but in the high school cafeterias there are multiple snack machines full of candy, chips, sodas, etc. The only thing that is going to happen is the kids are going to buy less of the healthier option and more of the unhealthy snack foods. Not to mention the poor ladies who work in the cafeteria are going to be getting griped at constantly for something that is out of their control.

But on the bright side...the high schools make lots of money off those snack machines...that's why they are still there.

The snack machines are put there by the school not the lunchroom.. wars have been fought over those snack machines from the beginning of time. the money that is made from them goes to the school it self not the lunch room. The principal of each school is in charge of those he/she decides were that money will go.

The lunch room can only control what the food nutrition guide lines are. if they say no salt then they will not even be on the order form to order. I agree the schools do make a lot of money off of those machines.

[jmd]

and besides the snack machines some high schools have iced coffee, slushies, cookies and baked goods, popcorn...so tell me that is going to help or make them skip the meal and buy elsewhere. It just made it worse for some. Now the salt shakers will go to school and unlimited salt (instead of packets) added to their foods. My son knows no difference since he never salts his foods.

[fishnthec]

Lady Raider, on 24 August 2011 - 07:58 AM, said:

The snack machines are put there by the school not the lunchroom.. wars have been fought over those snack machines from the beginning of time. the money that is made from them goes to the school it self not the lunch room. The principal of each school is in charge of those he/she decides were that money will go.

The lunch room can only control what the food nutrition guide lines are. if they say no salt then they will not even be on the order form to order. I agree the schools do make a lot of money off of those machines.

Believe me LR I know that, and I think it is very unfair to the lunchroom staff. I have lots of friends who work in the school cafeterias (good tip for anyone who works in schools...make friends with lunchroom group and custodians...they are all you really need) They are going to be the people who get the complaints from everyone; students for not haveing salt, and parents because their kids ate snacks from the machines instead of school lunch.

[WebsterMOM]

fishnthec, on 24 August 2011 - 08:12 AM, said:

Believe me LR I know that, and I think it is very unfair to the lunchroom staff. I have lots of friends who work in the school cafeterias (good tip for anyone who works in schools...make friends with lunchroom group and custodians...they are all you really need) They are going to be the people who get the complaints from everyone; students for not haveing salt, and parents because their kids ate snacks from the machines instead of school lunch.

:clapping::clapping::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

[Póg mo thóin]

Want salted grits? Eat them at home before you get to school. Problem solved.

Schools are damned if they do, damned if they don't.

[naturegirl]

Ummmm what about iodine?? Didn't they put iodine in salt to prevent iodine deficiencies?? Perhaps all this switch to non-iodized salt could be a reason for so many thyroid problems that seem to be cropping up. The thyroid controls the hormones that help burn calories. No food processor is going to put iodized salt in their food, it costs more.

My link

[markdavd]

mrshoward, on 24 August 2011 - 07:44 AM, said:

http://www.scientifi...the-war-on-salt

People have been told about the old/bad science that says salt is bad, that no amount of good science or facts will get them to change their minds.

No different than the lies about DDT in the '60s, or that they exhale greenhouse gasses.

The next new disease we'll be hearing about is Hyponatremia, which could be cured with daily salt intake, but by then, salt will be a controlled substance needing a prescription.

[Lady Raider]

fishnthec, on 24 August 2011 - 08:12 AM, said:

Believe me LR I know that, and I think it is very unfair to the lunchroom staff. I have lots of friends who work in the school cafeterias (good tip for anyone who works in schools...make friends with lunchroom group and custodians...they are all you really need) They are going to be the people who get the complaints from everyone; students for not haveing salt, and parents because their kids ate snacks from the machines instead of school lunch.

you are right

[lowrider]

TwoKidCircus, on 24 August 2011 - 06:59 AM, said:

Do you actually thing schools have enough time and resources to teach kids this?! They don't have enough time for state-mandated curriculum.

Heck, they don't have enough time to EAT lunch!

[markdavd]

I was wondering, if this really is a new LAW, when was it passed by congress?