According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the majority of Philadelphia schools failed to meet cafeteria safety and cleanliness standards. This marks the latest chapter in the assault on the education and well-being of our students. Out of compliance are 53 percent of public schools. Charter schools fared even worse with 66 percent out of compliance.
 Children need nutritious meals at school |
Unsafe practices described in the report include serving raw chicken, storing milk at room temperature, and the presence of mouse and rat feces among kitchen utensils. The report noted that the lunch staff employed by the public school system generally does a good job; problems arise from the negligent actions of outside for-profit vendors who supply and often serve the food.
These firms are guided by the capitalist profit motive, which directs them to cut costs in order to increase profits. The result is poorly cooked food and improper storage, which ultimately leads to serious health issues for children.
Companies, like Aramark in Philadelphia, overload our schools with cheap, unhealthy garbage that generates high profit margins. This is done without any consideration as to the effects it will have on our children, which include the risk of diabetes and obesity, along with a lack of energy and vitality on a day-to-day basis. Capitalist food service companies are only concerned with generating the highest possible rate of profit.
The report on cafeteria safety comes on the heels of the failure of a bill to improve school lunch programs. One reason the bill failed was that it would have resulted in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, in order to pay for improved school nutrition.
Funding for SNAP had been increased under the 2009 stimulus bill. These additional benefits would have been cut to fund the school lunch bill if passed. The school lunch bill was prominently promoted by First Lady Michelle Obama and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
It is outrageous that in one of the richest nations, lawmakers would even consider cutting one nutrition program in order to fund a different nutrition program. Improving school lunches is important, as is maintaining food stamps for adults and children alike. The money is there in the military budget to alleviate hunger and provide healthy and safe school lunches for all children.
