Deep fried cheeseburger strips coming to school cafeterias!!!

[Chaja]

This is unbelievable - a new product created by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association being marketed to school cafeterias!

I don't know where to write to counter this - if anyone has ideas please let me know - this should not be fed to children!!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/23/business/23BEEF.html

from the article: "Breaded, then deep-fried and served with ketchup or barbecue sauce, cheeseburger fries have found their way onto menus in several states including Nebraska, Minnesota and Texas since June. There is also a version being made available to public school cafeterias. . . .

The fries themselves are surprisingly light, weighing only about one ounce each. The meat, so that it holds together, is firm like a meatball. And while the taste is not distinctly beef, biting into one does impart the lingering flavoring of processed cheese.

Steve Mason, owner of the Brass Rail restaurant in Beatrice, Neb., said he served five fries in a portion and charged $2.95. "They're very profitable," he added.

Like most bar snacks, cheeseburger fries pack quite a dietary wallop. Each individual fry has about 75 calories and four grams of fat. The fries for schools have less beef per serving but still have about 60 calories and, in fact, more fat — a total of 6 grams — in each fry. And nobody eats just one."

I can't believe this junk is being marketed to schools!!!

[3boys4us]

Like most bar snacks, cheeseburger fries pack quite a dietary wallop. Each individual fry has about 75 calories and four grams of fat. The fries for schools have less beef per serving but still have about 60 calories and, in fact, more fat — a total of 6 grams — in each fry. And nobody eats just one.

Well explain to me how this is supposed to help our expanding waistlines and our kids?

[joesmom]

YUCK!

[daylily]

Who should you write to to counter this? You could start with your local school board. That at least might prevent these things from coming to your school district. You could also write to your local health department. I don't know about your area, but in ours, the health department has a childhood obesity task force that is involved with the schools.

I agree those fries sound disgusting. Geez, practically every health professional in the US is bemoaning childhood obesity and then someone comes along with something like this.

[TiredX2]

uuuuuh, at least a lot of junk food sounds good. those turn my stomach just thinking of them

kay

[Gemini]

:Puke

[Delilah]

We have new rules in our schools in Texas.

I'm not so sure this product can be sold in Texas school cafeterias. Texas has some real problems with obesity in children.

The school has even sent home notes to parents about how sugary and caffeinated drinks mess with their children's ability to concentrate and learn.

[dentente]

Nast. Tay.

:Puke

Denny

[Ms. Mom]

The title alone sounds discusting! Blah!

Good thing my kids like lunch from home because "school lunch hurts their tummies".

[Marlena]

Re: We have new rules in our schools in Texas.

*oops*

[Marlena]

Re: We have new rules in our schools in Texas.

Originally posted by Delilah
I'm not so sure this product can be sold in Texas school cafeterias. Texas has some real problems with obesity in children.

The school has even sent home notes to parents about how sugary and caffeinated drinks mess with their children's ability to concentrate and learn.

I don't think a few notes will do much, particularly when vending machines continue to flourish in our schools. Particularly with the budget cuts, the schools "need" all the money they can get from the food products placements (though they get that money at the expense of the children's health... : )

The bill that passed in the 78th regular session, SB 474, only establishes a commission to study the nutritional value of foods served in schools, and to report back to the lieutenant governor (I think) by October 2003. It's really pretty piddly, particularly given that there were much meatier bills that were introduced at the start of the session.

[RidentMama]

Please keep petitioning your local schools to keep this packed-grease stick (I mean really, isn't that what it is?) out of your schools! Two of the local high schools have actually taken steps this year to cut back on sugars...the best one (I think anyway) has actually locked out the soda machines and sugar-centered vending machines during class, ten minutes before school, and for an hour after school (during the after-school programs). The Aquafina machines are always on, as are a couple of vending machines that supply items such as sandwiches, yogurt and fruit. And from what I heard on the news, it was because of parent activism (and a really understanding school principle--way to go!).

Although really, we need to educate our kids at home about proper nutrition so that they can make wise decisions even when we're not there to help guide them...I hope to accomplish this with my daughter so she doesn't make the same mistakes I did.

[Ms. Mom]

They had them on Good Morning America yesterday morning! They were all eating them and Dian Sawyer was saying how yummy they were

I just searched their site and can't find anything on the segment.

[JessicaS]

GROSS!!!