Pols Put Pall on President's Potato Proposal

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Tuesday October 18, 2011

Senate votes for unlimited potatoes in schools

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate threw its support behind the potato Tuesday, voting to block an Obama administration proposal to limit the vegetable on school lunch lines.

Agriculture Department rules proposed earlier this year aimed to reduce the amount of french fries in schools, limiting lunchrooms to two servings a week of potatoes and other starchy vegetables. That angered the potato industry and members of Congress from potato-growing states, who say USDA should focus on the preparation instead and that potatoes can be a good source of fiber and potassium.

Following a bipartisan agreement on the issue, the Senate by voice vote accepted an amendment by Republican Sen. Susan Collins that would block USDA from putting any limits on serving potatoes or other vegetables in school lunches.

Amended was a spending bill that includes dollars for the Agriculture Department. The House passed a similar bill earlier this year including language that would ask the department to rewrite its school lunch rules entirely. Republicans have singled out the potato proposal in criticizing the rules, saying the government shouldn't be dictating what kids can eat.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20111018/AP13/310189838

[klook]

1. Congress Critters Cripple Curbs on Tater Fritters

"...the government shouldn't be dictating what kids can eat." Hell no! Ketchup is a vegetable, and Sunny D is a fruit.



Nevermind this:
Potatoes in any form cause more weight gain than soda or red meat, study says - Los Angeles Times

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2. The potato limit was crazy. Just discourage fried potatoes.

Potatoes are a nutritious source of complex carbohydrates. It's the preparation that makes them unhealthy. If you're going to limit potatoes, why not limit bread? Or rice? And why the limit on peas and corn? We've lost our minds.