NORWICH, N.Y. - Sen. Charles Schumer wants to make it more affordable for public schools to serve Greek yogurt, a move he says would expose more students to the high-protein food and boost a flourishing New York business.
Schumer sent a letter Monday to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack asking that he modify the school lunch program to incorporate Greek yogurt as a high-protein meat alternative.
He announced the plans Monday morning at FageUSA, a Greek yogurt manufacturer in Johnstown, saying it would give a boost to the local yogurt manufacturers as well as New York dairy farmers.
"Grocery shelves across
Upstate New York and the country are filled to the brim with Greek yogurt, but
unfortunately, despite their high protein and competitive cost, we can't say the
same for New
York school children and their school lunch and
breakfast menus," said Schumer.
"That is why I am launching a campaign
to work with the USDA and local schools so that New York's meal programs can say
they've ‘Got Greek Yogurt.'"
The current standards for foods, specifically meat alternatives, do not differentiate Greek yogurt from regular yogurt, despite its significantly higher nutritional value. By creating new guidelines for Greek yogurt, which has a dense nutritional and high protein value, Schumer's push would enable schools to purchase smaller, less costly servings of Greek yogurt to be incorporated into school lunch programs.
"The inclusion of Greek yogurt in the guidelines for our nation's school
meal programs would be consistent with the nutrition goals set out in
the Healthy Hunger Free Act of 2010," said Senator Schumer.
Schumer says a change in standards would make it easier for schools to purchase smaller, less costly servings of Greek yogurt.
Schumer promoted his case Monday in visits to two major Greek yogurt producers in upstate New York, Chobani and Fage.
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