School lunch proposal would soften standards

A House committee has approved a plan that would exempt certain schools from offering healthy school meals, the Associated Press has reported. The proposed Republican plan, which is part of an agriculture spending bill, was crafted after some school nutrition directors lobbied for relief, saying the new standards imposed a financial burden. If approved, schools that are losing money on meal programs over a six-month period would be allowed to opt out of the standards for the next school year. The standards require more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.