Big Government Really Concerned About School Bake Sales

When Conservatives discuss the federal government being too big and too powerful, too nannying and a continued overreach, this is a perfect example

At Chapman School in Nebraska, resourceful students hawk pizza and cookie dough to raise money for school supplies, field trips and an eighth-grade excursion to Washington. They peddle chocolate bars to help fund the yearbook.

But the sales won’t be so sweet starting this fall. Campus bake sales—a mainstay of school fundraisers—are going on a diet. A federal law that aims to curb childhood obesity means that, in dozens of states, bake sales must adhere to nutrition requirements that could replace cupcakes and brownies with fruit cups and granola bars.

The restrictions that took effect in July stem from the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act championed by first lady Michelle Obama and her “Let’s Move!” campaign. The law overhauled nutrition standards affecting more than 30 million children. Among the changes: fatty french fries were out, while baked sweet potato fries were deemed to be fine.

The law also required the U.S. Department of Agriculture to set standards for all food and beverages sold during the school day, which includes vending machines, snack carts and daytime fundraisers. It allowed for “infrequent” fundraisers, and states were allowed to decide how many bake sales they would have that didn’t meet nutrition standards. (snip)

Each state can mandate the number of daytime fundraisers held each year that buck the nutrition requirements. But so far, 32 states have opted to stay strictly in the healthy zone, according to a draft report from the School Nutrition Association, which said the final number could change before the school year begins.

It’s just too much of a pain for States to give the waivers. Not all of them are Blue states, either. Some Red states have decided it’s too much trouble.

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5 Responses to “Big Government Really Concerned About School Bake Sales”

  1. May I be the first (I’ve noticed) to suggest this sh*t is comically unenforceable. Do these humorless statists really believe “they” can monitor every elementary school bake sale? Do “they” really think they will get unthinking compliance from every PTA in the country? Oh wait, “they” have already taken over the entire public school bureaucracy. Never mind.

  2. The thing is, they aren’t worried about enforcement, they are simply expecting Compliance. That’s the way it world in Liberal World. Kinda like the Borg.

  3. alanstorm says:

    Can anyone out there present any evidence whatsoever that this is a FEDERAL issue?

    Anyone?

  4. gitarcarver says:

    Well alan, it sort of becomes a federal issue when the local governments decide to take money for lunch programs with the condition that the feds control what is served.

    Money over principle, you know.

    But it also shows students that the entrepreneurial spirit is not desirable. Bake sales? Out. Car washes? Out. Going out and getting sponsors for a specific high school team? Out.

    Just rely on the government to meet all your needs.

    Oh, and as a side note, my local school district has announced an increase in prices to handle the increase in costs of the lunch program standards.

  5. Casey says:

    gitarcarver, a countable number of school systems are opting out of the program for exactly that reason; they can’t afford it.

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