FDA Beef Recall — Why Do Our School Kids get Less than Sub-Prime Food?
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Now that we’ve settled into the initial shock of witnessing the Nation’s largest food recall in her history, and the world has turned it’s attentions to Fidel Castro’s resignation, my focus has now shifted to where this meat went and why there are no checks and balances to the point where 143 million tons of unfit food gets out into the marketplace, and most shockingly, into the public school system.
The meat that was recalled was part of a variety of meats provided through the USDA’s National School Lunch Program (NSLP) which keeps prices low and the meat in question was primarily used by schools, according to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. The NSLP states on their site that they provide “nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946…” I’m assuming that if this program is offering low-cost or free lunches, it is most likely to children coming from low-to-moderate income households.
According to a piece on NPR, the recalled meat is showing up within the Michigan school districts. These districts have to dispose of the following massive amounts of food: Grand Rapids Public Schools — 10 tons of hamburger; Ann Arbor Public Schools 200 pounds of beef.
And now the governments response: Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, chairwoman of the House Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Subcommittee, called the video inhumane and said she was concerned it “demonstrates just how far our food safety system has collapsed.”
When I wrote my post on the documentary King Korn, and a bit on our farming and food safety system, it really got me thinking about the checks and balances that don’t seem to be in place AND the subsidies that are offered to farmers and ranchers to provide food product to supply big government contracts. In other words, if there’s a lot of money at stake, was the Westland/Hallmark meatpacking plant going to do “whatever it takes” to meet that NSLP food deliverables? This is the problem for me.
Rep. DeLauro (D-Conn.) has called for an independent investigation into the government’s ability to secure the safety of meat in the nation’s schools. I will certainly await that report.
So again, it brings us to, “what I can do?”
Reach out to your state representatives and let them know how outraged you are and that this cannot happen in your district. Also check out the Center for Ecoliteracy. Their “Rethinking School Lunch” is the gold-standard of how we can provide our children a hands on experience in growing their own food and embracing healthy food and sustainability. It might sound a leap for the inner-city, or children from low-to-moderate income homes — but look what they’re doing in the Berkeley Public School Systems.
Remember, we are what we eat.
Namaste,
Hi Michelle–I am a chapter leader for the Weston A. Price Foundation. Wondering if I can add you to my press list. I have a few things I’d like to send you. Can you provide an email address? Thanks.
Hello Kim. We’d love to be added to your press list. I will send my contact info directly to your email address. Glad the Price Foundation finds our voice of interest! Talk soon.
Where there is money to be saved … integrity is compromised. Unfortunately, the process of penny pinching and gross gains for the meat companies is contrary to the well-being of our children.
Here, here! Frances. Thank you so much for your comment. That’s exactly how I feel.
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