US: School lunch potatoes still in limbo

The legislative fight over to what extent potatoes can be served at schools in the United States is not over yet.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has delayed an amendment that would challenge the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proposal to limit potatoes in school meals.

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the fiscal year 2012 agriculture/FDA appropriation bill Sept. 7 without the amendment, but Collins said she may offer it when the full Senate considers the bill. John Keeling, president of the National Potato Council, Washington, D.C., said he has not seen the language of the potential Collins amendment. He said there is uncertainty about whether the appropriations bill will be considered by the full Senate.

“The good news is that she, in a very forceful way, is raising some serious issues about the school meal plan, and that is that it incurs unnecessary costs to improve school nutrition and it does it in great part by limiting the schools’ flexibility and particularly their flexibility to serve potatoes in nutritious forms,” Keeling said.