Can someone PLEASE explain this to me?

That's the cool thing about Mylot and other online communities.

I did not realize that Food Stamps were issued by the Department of Agriculture either. I am learning all sorts of new things!

I don't think a lot of that is still in the form of actual products any more. Many areas no longer distribute comodities to individuals or schools; they get debit cards or lines of credit. Many schools contract "food service" out and it is delivered by catering companies. A lot of schools now have vending machines which dispense everything from juice and soda to chips and candy. Some places are trying to limit the selection or eliminate it; because of the trash and childhood obesity problems. When I went to school there were NO vending machines of any kind on school property. I am not sure where the FDA fits in; but, they are so overworked and understaffed, they can't even do they job they currently have. The Surgeon General (Health) is the one who sets the nation's dietary guidelines - new "health pyramid", etc. Education does dictate PE, recess, curriculum, etc.; but does not have control of feeding these children. This all came up when I was reading an article about Congress trying to eliminate junk food from schools across the country and them having to deal with the big corporations who want their vending machines and other foods served; the Dept of Agriculture who is actually in control of the "school lunch program"; parents who are concerned about the food available to their children in school; and health professionals. I knew there had to be a reason for sticking school lunches under the Department of Agriculture at SOME time in our past. Perhaps the old system of providing physical commodities directly to schools did have something to do with it.

The advantages of being in a small school district. Our wellness committee decided that pop would no longer be available at attendance centers in our district. The pop is gone. At the elementary the teachers have pop in a refrigerator, on the honor system, in the break room. I am a little disappointed at the high school, as the machines are there, with "healthy" choices of Tropicana (read Coca Cola) drinks that are still first ingredient "high fructose corn syrup" or artificial sweeteners. At our elementary the principal says "Teachers are not to have any beverage except water (or milk) in the sight of the kids." In my junior high school we had vending machines that sold fruit, including lemons, and giant pickles. We had a snack bar at noon run by the band parents as a fund raiser, and that was where people got pop and chips and candy. Things keep on changing.

I now understand that they were probably given this responsibility becasue they provided some of the food that WAS used to provide the lunches - the amount received by schools now is a lot less. But, they have no control or input over the vending machines that are proliferating in the schools and they are NOT experts in human nutrition - of course, even the so-called "experts" disagree and keep changing their minds. I would think that they would be encouraging the schools to rely on the products they are providing them - whether they are really healthy or not. I remember when I was younger that my school was given so much butter by the government that hey were unable to use it all before the end of the year - so they were giving better to the teachers to take home and use so that it would not spoil over the summer. Too much butter is not good for anyone due to the calories and fat content; but, that is what he school received. Maybe it is time to change who is responsible for our children's nutrition at school.