| |
|
         |
 |
NOT WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED Tell Senator Schumer and the USDA Scientific evidence shows that there are many health risks linked to drinking cow's milk: from asthma, ear infections, and allergies to type 1 (childhood-onset) diabetes and prostate cancer. Yet, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) is pushing for milk vending machines in every public school across the country. He claims, "The machines could be just what the doctor ordered to clean up the dietary disarray in schools and help fix the crisis facing New York farms." Not surprisingly, Senator Schumer's state of New York is the second-largest dairy-producing state in the country after California. What is Senator Schumer proposing? Senator Schumer has urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to offer financial incentives to schools that put milk vending machines in their hallways. If the USDA declines to act on its own, Senator Schumer says he will consider legislating this "vendi-milk" requirement through this year's reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act and National School Lunch Act. What you can do: Write Senator Schumer and USDA Secretary Ann Veneman and tell them why this is a bad idea. Tell them that to truly improve and safeguard the health of America's children, they should implement wholesale changes to the School Lunch Program, such as eliminating the dairy requirement and mandating that a low-fat, vegan option be available every day, and they should stop the "commodity dump" of unhealthy, surplus animal products on economically disadvantaged school children who receive meals through this Program. As for vending machines, if they want to reduce the consumption of carbonated beverages in favor of healthy alternatives, vending machines should be filled with bottled water, juice, and soymilk—not cow's milk. How to contact Senator Schumer: The Honorable Charles Schumer How to contact USDA Secretary Ann Veneman: Ann Veneman, Secretary How to contact the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service (the USDA agency that administers the School Lunch Program): Roberto Salazar, Administrator To see PCRM's letter to Senator Schumer, please click here. 04/22/02 |
||
