Would Your Child's Lunch Pass Inspection?
North Carolina incident has some questioning whether government regulations have gone too far.
A North Carolina preschooler recently had her lunch confiscated and replaced with a school meal after a state agent decided the contents of her lunch box were not healthy enough, Fox News reports.
The child was given a school meal that included chicken nuggets to replace the turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, apple juice and potato chips she had brought from home. According to an account in the Carolina Journal, the person inspecting lunches that day did not feel the girl's lunch met U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines that require lunches consist of one serving of meat, one serving of milk, one serving of grain, and two servings of fruit or vegetables, even if the lunches are brought from home.
The Carolina Journal further reports that state regulations mandate, "When children bring their own food for meals and snacks to the center, if the food does not meet the specified nutritional requirements, the center must provide additional food necessary to meet those requirements."
While the idea of having your child's lunch inspected may seem preposterous, the National Review Online reports lunch inspections have been taking place in England for years. In a prescient July 2010 article, Julie Gunlock wrote, "One might think of this as just another wacky Big Brother anecdote coming out of Europe. But the truth is, food police are already active in American public schools, and it likely won’t be long before they start snooping into our kids’ lunchboxes. No doubt any child caught with Twinkies, Ho Hos, or Ding Dongs will be sent home immediately, with a note advising his parents on how to provide better meals."
What do you think? Should the government regulate the meals parents provide for their children? Is it appropriate for state agents to inspect lunch boxes? How would you feel if your child's lunch from home was inspected or confiscated? Tell us in the comments.
Frank Campbell
9:58 am on Thursday, February 16, 2012
The government has gone too far, and gotten out of hand. Given enough power, they will be determining if what the children eat at home, AWAY from school, is deemed healthy enough
Jimmy Wilbanks
10:56 am on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Not a power granted to the federal government under the US Constitution. Therefore, the government agent who determined this committed an illegal act.
Kristi Reed
12:30 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
It really is appalling to think taxpayer dollars funded this agent's activities. I was watching a man defend this action on television last night. His basic argument was that since these regulations resulted from the actions of a democratically elected Congress, then, by definition, the American people should be okay with it. How's that for twisted logic? Disgusting and disturbing.
Amy Edwards
6:15 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Keyword here is GUIDELINE! Did the definition of a guideline suddenly change to be the same definition of a regulation? This is ridiculous! And since when did cafeteria style chicken nuggets become healthier than turkey and cheese. Unbelievable!
Grant
6:20 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Total fail....You swallowed the bait before looking for the actual facts...
1) Kid's lunch was NOT confiscated
2) The person who was inspecting lunches was actually a teacher (not an "agent" ) and apparently got nervous because the facility was being inspected
3) The school apologized for the misunderstanding
When something seems entirely ridiculous it probably is and it might warrant a bit more investigation. As it turns out this entire "incident" was nothing more than a nervous teacher ...
Here is a link to "the rest of the story"
http://myfox8.com/2012/02/15/usda-meal-was-not-replaced-mom-was-never-charged/
Kristi Reed
7:27 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Hi Grant - The only total fail happened at this school.
According to this article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/nc-school-teachers-mistake-at-school-lunch-led-to-upset-calls-of-government-overreach/2012/02/16/gIQAof8NIR_story.html
"The cafeteria details are true, but rather than an example of government 'lunch bag police' overruling a family, it’s an embarrassing lapse by a teacher, Hoke County Schools Assistant Superintendent Bob Barnes said Thursday.
"The girl’s teacher should have handed the child a carton of milk to round out the turkey-and-cheese sandwich and banana she brought from home. Instead, the teacher erred by telling the tyke to get a cafeteria lunch, Barnes said."
So, it still sounds as if the child was not allowed to eat the lunch she brought.
Plus, in the article you cite, the person inspecting lunches was described as a “North Carolina Education staff member conducting a review of the child care center.” That would be a state agent (a representative, emissary, or official of a government - in this case, North Carolina).
The school should have apologized, so it is good that they did. The question remains, however, as to whether or not it is appropriate for anyone - teacher, agent, whatever - to inspect the lunches parents pack for their children.
Brian Crawford
9:34 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Now doesn't everybody just feel silly.
M.K. Osborne
7:59 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
if they want to dictate this , they should provide free lunch to all kids , 10% - 40% in most schools are not on free lunch so the gap would not be a big shocker.
Grant
9:20 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Kristi writes
"The question remains, however, as to whether or not it is appropriate for anyone - teacher, agent, whatever - to inspect the lunches parents pack for their children."
Appropriate? I dunno...Required by law ..it would appear so...
"The Division of Child Development and Early Education at the Department of Health and Human Services requires all lunches served in pre-kindergarten programs - including in-home day care centers - to meet USDA guidelines. That means lunches must consist of one serving of meat, one serving of milk, one serving of grain, and two servings of fruit or vegetables, even if the lunches are brought from home.
When home-packed lunches do not include all of the required items, child care providers must supplement them with the missing ones."
So the preschool is required by law to make sure each kid has a decent lunch...and if some kid shows up with a twinkie and a coke the teachers offer an apple and a carton of milk. Sorry, I fail to see a problem with that...
No one's lunch was "confiscated" no one was forced to eat anything...The preschool was simply attempting to follow the regulations http://ncchildcare.dhhs.state.nc.us/parents/pr_sn2_ov_sr.asp
P Celtic
2:10 pm on Sunday, February 19, 2012
Is not it this simple. It is no ones business what a parent gives their child for lunch. We are moving into a regulated world where you are presumed guilty and in order to use the services your tax dollars pay for you have to submit to having someone judge your parenting decisions and in essence prove you are providing your child an adequate lunch as measured by a "committee" established guidelines. Ok - so they don't take the meal away and just provide some additional items, if I do not want my child to have those things what do I have to do to stop it, the burden of proof is on me to show them why me decisions on my child's meal is acceptable.
Brian Crawford
9:45 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
It should be stressed that there are no Federal Lunchbox Inspectors. This appears to be North Carolina's interpretation of Federal guidelines. Quite frankly I'm glad to know they care enough about their children to make sure they're getting at least one good meal a day.
Mike Korom
10:54 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Right Brian (you won't see those two words together often), so the answer is the child received and ate three additional chicken nuggets. Chicken nuggets are one of the worst nutritional products one can eat. Plus, PITA can't be happy about this.
Clearly, this is simply another example of government overreach which is a sign of our times.
R++ - One of the famous "Dacula Crew"
11:30 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Point of Clarification - Correct spelling PETA.
Although the original acronym is considered more accurate in some corners ( smiles)
bobby black
10:31 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
And now they are going to keep you from eating too much candy. Mars has announced that their candy bars will contain no more than 250 calories. This means that if you have a real appetite for candy that you will have to buy two bars instead of one. Of course they are just looking out for your health.
Heather Faubert
12:45 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012
The problem I have also is if they want to dictate what our chilren should be eating will they be paying for it. Unlike some, since both parents actually work in my household we don't qualify for free or discounted lunches at all (guess I am rich and didn't know it). There are a few reasons I pack my children their lunches. 1. They pick out what they like to eat (which ultimately is almost exactly like what I used to pack in my lunches)...a sandwich, a bag of chips, a juice and a snack like a cookie or such; 2. Lunches (ecspecially in Gwinnett County) are expensive to buy everyday and when you are supporting a family of six then every penny counts and matters; 3. I know they will eat their lunch and not just buy it and throw it away and go hungry and waste the money when buying and 4. Every night I read the menu to my son and he decides whether or not he wants to buy the next day or if I should pack...maybe twice a month he buys at school...why....because he says the food they serve is gross. So unless someone wants to come in and buy my children's food and cook it then it would be best to feed my children what I as a parent have a right to do. It does not matter whether the lunch in the article was confiscated or not confiscated....there should have been no notice whatsoever, at least the child had food. Maybe they should put their focus on the children that have no food and go hungry....seems like it makes more sense to me. Ok...my opinion is done....carry on :)
Dacula Momma
2:07 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012
On a somewhat related topic, I wonder why SOME of our local schools still allow parents to bring fast food to the cafeteria? My daughter's school does not allow outside food, but some schools allow it and the parents bring fast food each and every time they have lunch with their child.
North Georgia Weather
3:19 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012
The government has absolutely no right to tell me what I'm going to feed my kids. If I send them with a sack lunch, the school BETTER allow them to eat it. I've never seen ANYONE take a second look at a kids sack lunch at our school.
M.K. Osborne
10:09 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012
Some School Cafeteria's are lined with cola machines also , wheres the USDA on this ?
M.K. Osborne
10:12 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012
Oh i forgot ... the machines are a good source of greens !!
Kari Shoebridge Montgomery
9:28 am on Sunday, February 19, 2012
This is just another example of the government trying to take full control of our lives. Just imagine what's going to happen if Obama stays in another term. What's next? Are they going to mandate that a mother can only breastfeed her child a certain number of times a day? Deciding what the mother is going to eat as well? This is ridiculous.
M.K. Osborne
1:48 pm on Sunday, February 19, 2012
So the teacher was a Democrat ? or just a scared for her job peasant making a knee jerk reaction ? Government in general is not here for your rights , its to keep you in your place !
M.K. Osborne
2:41 pm on Sunday, February 19, 2012
P Celtic , tell them it is religious and they want touch it with a ten foot pole.
Tammy Osier
5:08 pm on Sunday, February 19, 2012
I don't have a problem with suplementing a milk or juice (maybe a pbj), if you have a kid who doesn't generally have much from home - no problems there. The rub is the ultra PC in this one and who interprets what for whom. To substitute a turkey and cheese sandwich and banana (all natural ingredients) with chicken nuggets? Those nuggets are breaded with fillers (you know the stuff that's full of empty calories) and probably have trace amounts of real chicken. Everything that parent sent was natural. What is served in school is not necessarily all natural (veggies are) and because of being served in bulk, probably has preservatives. Are they planning to reimburse the parent for what she bought at the grocery store? PC gone wild in this case - imo.
Tammy Osier
5:13 pm on Sunday, February 19, 2012
@ Bobby:
I saw those commercials last night, and my first question was, 'OK. Are they going to charge less for the new and improved candy bar?" Really! If I'm going to mess up my diet, I might as well eat the whole thing and enjoy it. I won't be eating another one for a while. Kind of like thin mints....oh my. GS's are at the doorsteps aren't they?
Grant
8:24 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
Those of you all up in arms about this have really failed to understand whats happening here . It's unbelievable how quickly you guys go off and how easily Fox news can mislead you.
Go and read the articles..
This is a state program that certain childcare facilities can qualify for . To get this qualification (Star Rating) they have to pass certain guidelines and inspections, one of which states that all the kids will be served a healthy lunch (O the horror). http://ncchildcare.dhhs.state.nc.us/parents/pr_sn2_ov_sr.asp
Not all NC childcare facilities have this "Star" rating and parents are free to choose a Star rated facility or not . They are also well aware of the requirements. Those morally or politically opposed to a teacher giving an apple to your kid because you sent him to school with a twinkie and a coke can choose to send their precious snowflakes to other facilities not bound by the Star rating.
Again , no one lost their lunch (except me after seeing the moronic response to this non issue) no one was forced to eat anything and the federal government isnt invading your lunchboxes. Chill
M.K. Osborne
12:26 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
Like i said , if they want to make sure all lunches are within guidelines they need to provide them to all . provide uniforms , etc ..... flashback .... Germany .