Pasta has been reclassified as a vegetable U.S. schools. An overhaul national dietary regulations has resulted pasta now counting towards the vegetable requirements school lunches the USA. The new school guidelines were released the U.S. Department of Agriculture last week. The rules stipulate that: "Pasta made of vegetable flour may credit as a vegetable, even if the pasta is not served another recognizable vegetable." Pasta can only be regarded as a vegetable serving if it is made potato, soy or other starchy, vegetable-based flour. Shocked critics the new rules joked that bread could be regarded as a vegetable as that is also made flour.
Other changes outlined include the halving fruit given to children breakfast and the provision a greater selection burgers, fries, pizza and other high-calorie food that is full saturated fat and salt. The Agriculture Secretary defended the guidelines. He said the new rules would reduce food waste. He said the new policy was necessary because, "a more common-sense flexibility is needed to provide students nutritious and appetizing meals". The guidelines reverse the Hunger-Free Kids Act 2010, which was championed Michelle Obama. A health expert said: "This makes absolutely no sense. Politics and industry pressure should not interfere what is best children's health."
