March 23, 2004
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today applauded passage of H.R. 3783, the Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act, and lauded the House Committee on Education and the Workforce for including a large part of her Right to Know Student Nutrition Act in the final bill, which passed the House this afternoon 419-5. The Senate has yet to act on its version of the bill.
Lee’s Right to Know bill called for proper labeling and alternatives for irradiated food served under the National School Lunch Program. Under new United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) rules, the federal government will no longer prevent school districts from purchasing irradiated food products for their students.
“I’m happy that several of the key components of the Right to Know bill were included in the Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act,” said Lee. “But I’m hopeful that as this bill moves forward, we can strengthen the existing language in order to provide balanced information on the purpose of irradiation, the effects of irradiation on the nutritional value of foods, and any potential health consequences.”
“It is absolutely necessary that our students and their parents know what they are eating. If students are being served irradiated meat, then at the very least, this information should appear in their cafeterias.”
“We must also make sure that instead of merely encouraging school districts to provide alternatives to irradiated food as the bill calls for, that we require them to do so, and we provide them with the money they need to do that. Nevertheless, this represents a good beginning for parents and children, who have the right to know what is being consumed.”
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Congresswoman Barbara Lee Lauds Passage of Child Nutrition and Integrity Act – Lee Provision Requiring Labeling for Irradiation Food Added
House Passes Child Nutrition Improvement Bill 419-5
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today applauded passage of H.R. 3783, the Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act, and lauded the House Committee on Education and the Workforce for including a large part of her Right to Know Student Nutrition Act in the final bill, which passed the House this afternoon 419-5. The Senate has yet to act on its version of the bill.
Lee’s Right to Know bill called for proper labeling and alternatives for irradiated food served under the National School Lunch Program. Under new United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) rules, the federal government will no longer prevent school districts from purchasing irradiated food products for their students.
“I’m happy that several of the key components of the Right to Know bill were included in the Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act,” said Lee. “But I’m hopeful that as this bill moves forward, we can strengthen the existing language in order to provide balanced information on the purpose of irradiation, the effects of irradiation on the nutritional value of foods, and any potential health consequences.”
“It is absolutely necessary that our students and their parents know what they are eating. If students are being served irradiated meat, then at the very least, this information should appear in their cafeterias.”
“We must also make sure that instead of merely encouraging school districts to provide alternatives to irradiated food as the bill calls for, that we require them to do so, and we provide them with the money they need to do that. Nevertheless, this represents a good beginning for parents and children, who have the right to know what is being consumed.”
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