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Vermont school nutrition directors urge investing in scratch cooking, not an unfunded ban in S.26
Summary
Two Vermont school nutrition directors told the Health & Welfare committee that S.26 — which would prohibit certain artificial dyes and additives in foods sold in schools — risks creating an unfunded compliance burden and urged investments in kitchen infrastructure, training and centralized monitoring instead.
Caroline, the committee chair, opened a Health & Welfare hearing Feb. 17 on S.26, a bill that would prohibit certain artificial dyes and additives in foods and beverages sold in Vermont schools.
Scott Fay, school nutrition director for the Essex Westford School District, said he supports the bill’s goal of healthier school meals but urged the committee "not to move forward with S.26 as written," arguing that the proposal would act as an unfunded mandate that adds significant monitoring and documentation burdens to programs already subject to extensive federal and state requirements.
"When the market forces are already driving reformulation, it may be worth considering whether additional regulation targeted only at schools is the most efficient approach," Fay said,…
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