How much influence do American parents have over what their kids are fed at school? If a recent conference held at the National Academy of Sciences is anything to go by then the answer may be 'not much'. The event appeared to be another mundane scientific discussion on childhood nutrition, otherwise known as the National School Lunch Program, which serves lunch to over 30 million students all over America and it’s worth a whopping $10billion in contracts. The program is also reviewed and re-authorised by the US Congress every five years and this meeting represents the progression of that process.
Parents take note: This is where the Institute of Medicine, HMOs and USDA rubbed shoulders with multiple members of the Grocery Manufacturers of America or GMA, which has lobbied in opposition to efforts to remove junk food from schools. Also presents were lobbyists for the soy, dairy and egg industries as well as representatives of bakers, food processors and many of these interest groups had members of their law firms in tow. Other attendees included representatives from Sara Lee, Pepsi, Campbell's Soup and McDonald's PR firm Porter Novelli, Berners Communications, while law firm Powell Tate - which once counted RJ Reynolds as a client - was there with the National Pork Board.
