Is School Lunch Bad?

How often do your kids eat hot lunch at school? I don't know what I am going to do when my little ones get in school. I can't imagine packing a lunch everyday, but my mom did it. So, I feel like I can too. I would hope the lunches served at schools now aren't as bad for kids as when I was in school, but this story from CNN makes me think otherwise.

CNN: As schools start across the country, a debate is underway regarding what your kids eat for lunch. Processed meats - specifically those cured by nitrites - like most hot dogs and ham - are the center of the debate.

They've been a staple of school lunches for decades, hot dogs, pepperoni pizza, ham, but now there are increasing calls for schools to drop processed meats from your child's menu. The reason? Not the obesity epidemic, it's nitrites that some studies have linked to cancer. Dr. Walter Willett is Chair of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. "If you care about the health of your child, you don't want your child eating processed meats for lunch at home or at school. The American Cancer Society says "eating processed meats increases exposure to potential cancer causing agents and should be reduced as much as possible."

The American Institute for Cancer Research says simply: "Avoid processed meat." But not everyone agrees. Randy Huffman is President of the American Meat Institute Foundation, an industry-sponsored advocacy group. He's taken his case right to today's version of the public square: YouTube. "If you like cured meats that contain sodium nitrite, you should eat them with confidence." Huffman, points out: "There are studies showing a link between cancer and processed meat, but there are also studies that do not show a link. The science is not certain on this issue. There's still a lot of questions."

Hufman says many foods, like spinach, or pomegranates naturally contain nitrites. A liter of pomegranate juice contributes about 100 times more nitrite than a hot dog. We put that to Dr. Willett: "In my book that's just plain baloney." Willett, and many other experts, say nitrites are fine in fruits and vegetables and are only a problem when combined with protein like in meat.

The meat industry disagrees. "This is, what you're referring to is an old theory. We showed that Youtube video to several experts and they said they found it misleading. I don't know who your experts were but you're not talking to the right ones."

So while the experts debate processed meats won't be disappearing from school lunch menus any time soon. So what about processed meats in school lunches? We spoke with officials from the School Nutrition Association, which represents school dietitians around the country. It says the science behind the calls to eliminate processed meats from schools is far from conclusive.

What kind of lunch does your child's school provide? How often to pack a sack lunch?

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Click here to take our HOI 19 Poll: Do your kids eat hot lunch at school?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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