Vegetarian Star

As part of her Let’s Move! initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama is expected to make an announcement on Monday about a program that will put 5,000 salad bars in schools across the U.S.

The campaign is not expected to move without opposition, though, primarily because of the USDA nutrition tracking rules and local health inspectors, reports Grist.org.

As Jamie Oliver learned when he tried to transform a Virginia town’s diet, the USDA has some strict rules about what qualifies for nutritious food (French fries are definitely okay) and schools won’t be open to the plan if they cannot get proper reimbursement.

A few school districts, Philadelphia, Austin, Tex., and Montgomery County, Md, have already decided they will not welcome the bars once the initiative starts.

There is also the question of sanitation.

Children, especially younger kids, cough and sneeze without paying attention to manners and some fear kids will transmit germs onto an open salad bar, further increasing the chances of colds and other viruses spreading in schools.

Ann Cooper, director of nutrition services in Boulder, Colo. schools, is also a key partner in the initiative. She teamed up with Whole Foods to raise $1.4 million from customers to establish the program to place the bars in schools. Cooper is expected to manage the applications for bars from schools and distribute the funds necessary for equipment.

As for salad germs, Cooper said, “As far as I’ve found out, there are no documented disease outbreaks from school salad bars. By and large, this is not a high risk area.”

Photo: PR Photos

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