Ted Poe presses law to keep ‘federal food police’ out of schools

Rep. Ted Poe has brought forth a bill to scale back federal regulations — mostly stemming from first lady Michelle Obama’s healthy eating initiatives — that restrict and dictate food offerings in the nation’s schools.

Specifically, H.R. 881 addresses bake sales and school fundraisers involving food.

The 2010 nutrition standards developed by the Department of Agriculture at Mrs. Obama’s pressing, apply not only to school breakfast and lunch menus, but also — due to an adopted USDA rule — to any food that’s sold in schools, Mr. Poe said in a statement on his congressional website.

So he’s brought forward a bill to scale back those government regulations.

“The federal food police need to stay out of our schools,” the Texas Republican said in the statement. “First, the regulators came into our lunchrooms, then vending machines and now school fundraisers. For years, students and parent have used the bake sale as a way to raise funds for school trips, athletic competitions, new uniforms and other activities. Teachers in my district have come to me concerned that this new rule will prevent their students from holding various after-school activities.”

He then slammed the atmosphere in Washington for its political overreach.

“Washington bureaucrats have no business telling any American (no matter what age) what they can and cannot eat,” Mr. Poe wrote. “Not only is this rule an example of gross government overreach, it is also denying public schools funds for extra-curricular activities. Congress should not fund any efforts to implement this abuse of government power.”