A Perfect Storm?

In other LAC programs, directors explored topics ranging from the history of nutrition standards to funding challenges facing child nutrition programs today.

According to Lynn Hoggard, state director of the North Carolina Department of Public Institutions in Raleigh, many factors have converged to create “a perfect storm” that could set child nutrition programs back for years if not addressed.

Hoggard pointed to a variety of challenges: increased operating, food, labor, equipment, storage and indirect costs; decreasing revenues; more demanding national and local nutrition standards; and the impact competitive food sales are having, undermining the program.

She also noted that increasing numbers of needy students are not even able to afford reduced-price meals because of declines in the economic situation faced by their households.

FSDs to USDA: ‘Here's the Beef!’

In the wake of the nation's largest-ever beef recall, directors and other stakeholders were assertive in their complaints during a session in which they spoke face-to-face with top representatives from the USDA.

Why wasn't there a faster response from the USDA when the extent of the recall became known? Why were messages on how directors were to comply with the recall in conflict? What were the real safety risks for students who may have consumed affected product?

While frustration with aspects of the recall was evident from both sides, both USDA representatives and the audience seemed anxious to move forward, and the session ended with a significant amount of constructive dialogue about how procedures could be improved for the future.

Typical of many comments were those by Beth Wallace of San Antonio, TX, who described learning details about the recall from her suppliers and concerned parents before receiving information from the USDA.

“I didn't know how to respond,” Wallace told the panel. “Right now, a lot of people in my area are asking if we are going to be ‘beef-free.’” Other directors relayed similar experiences.

In response, Eric Steiner, Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) Associate Administrator, said the USDA is working on faster response times and an alert system on its web site. “We want to work with the states to make that information flow more quickly,” he said.

Dr. Kenneth E. Petersen, assistant administrator, USDA Office of Field Operations Food Safety and Inspection Service, was on hand to answer what he called “the safety question.”

Petersen said the recall was a “Class II” action, which meant the chance of serious health hazards was very remote. In past recalls, many having to do with E. Coli contamination, the risk has been much greater. This recall was made “out of an abundance of caution,” Petersen said. “Those who have consumed the product in question are at very minimal risk.”