
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, October 26, 1993                   TAG: 9310260179
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOL LUNCHES GET AN `F'

Almost none of the public school lunch programs examined in a recent survey conformed to the Agriculture Department's dietary guidelines, and almost all provided far too much fat and salt, according to a USDA report released Monday.

"We can't continue to deep fry our children's health," said Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy in announcing the findings.

The study found that 99 percent of the 545 schools surveyed last year offered lunches that exceeded the federal target for total fat consumption; and all but one school exceeded the standard for saturated fat. In addition, the amount of sodium in an average lunch was almost twice the recommended level, the study found.

Espy, who presented the findings at a news conference in the cafeteria at Washington's Brent Elementary School after eating a lunch of fried chicken, green beans, salad, milk and an apple, said the study shows that school meals must be improved, and that the Agriculture Department has begun to overhaul them.

He said that USDA is holding four hearings around the country to gather information, but offered no specific plans for improving the program.

The study collected information on a week's worth of meals from 545 schools from February to May 1992. Students were also asked what they ate during a 24-hour period that included a school day. The Agriculture Department found that:

The average percentage of calories from fat in school lunches was 38 percent, compared with the goal of 30 percent. In addition, 15 percent of calories came from saturated fat, compared with the goal of 10 percent.

Children who ate the school lunch had significantly higher intakes of saturated fat and total fat than children eating other lunches. But children who didn't participate in the lunch program were more likely to consume sweets and sweet drinks.

Despite the high fat and sodium content, school lunches do provide at least one-third or more of the daily recommendations for nutrients such as Vitamins A and C, calcium and iron.

Despite the averages for fat content in school lunches, 44 percent of schools surveyed did offer at least one low-fat lunch choice, although students often did not choose it. In fact, the study found that in schools that offered lower-fat meals, student participation dropped substantially.

by CNB