School Lunch Meat – Eww!
By: Keith
“…, the USDA has supplied schools with thousands of tons of meat from old birds that might otherwise go to compost or pet food. Called ‘spent hens’ because they’re past their egg-laying prime, the chickens don’t pass muster with Colonel Sanders — KFC won’t buy them — and they don’t pass the soup test, either. The Campbell Soup Company says it stopped using them a decade ago based on ‘quality considerations’.” – USA Today
Birds aren’t the only problem for school lunches. According to the same article, most fast food restaurants test their meats 10 times more rigorously for bacteria and other harmful substances than does Agricultural Marketing Services (the company that buys meats for school lunch programs). It isn’t that the meat doesn’t pass USDA standards; it’s that USDA standards are too low. McDonald’s, and other fast food restaurants, have determined that they need to be 10 times more thorough than USDA standards in their own meat testing. School lunches are the butt of jokes for a reason.
Adapt or Die: The government can’t adapt. We think of McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants as these huge evil monolithic companies that cut costs everywhere at the expense of the consumer. The reality is that satisfying a customer is priority number one for companies because that’s how they stay in business. They tread a fine line between profit and customer satisfaction. The free market tells them where that line is through effective advertising and shareholder satisfaction. A few badly timed lawsuits can seriously cripple a company; it is in their best interest to keep people happy. No, fast food restaurants aren’t known for white glove service, but they know what their customers want. Their customers want fast, safe and reasonably tasty food. They know that if people lose confidence in their product that they’re dead. They can’t afford it. Their meat testing far surpasses USDA requirements because they, unlike the government, need to make money, and they can’t do it without customers.
Government is Slow: The lunch program meat testing problem is the same problem every government has always had. They are stuck in the past and can’t keep up with innovation. The government’s standards are 10 years out of date with the free market (according to the same article). While other companies were innovating and improving standards and testing methods, the government model was at a complete standstill. It cost Jack in the Box 1 penny more per pound of meat to implement one of the most rigorous testing methods in the industry. The technology exists for the government to do it. The cost is not much more. What’s holding them back? Bureaucracy is what’s holding them back, and that will never change. Government is always 10 steps behind the free market.
Meanwhile: In the mean time our kids are eating substandard meat. If the problem is bad food, the solution must be good food. I propose parents go get their kids a lunch box (do kids still use those?) and put some fruit and a sandwich in there. That’s a cheap meal, and it’s healthy. Until government has to face the realities of a shifting market they will always lag and produce substandard product. This is the nature of zero competition. I used to eat school lunches. Then, in 6th grade, I got wise and started spending my lunch money on Junior Mints from the snack bar.
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OKAY. I guess it’s a good thing I’ve been making school lunches alllllll these years. And still am.
.-= BigLittleWolf´s last blog ..The life I do not lead =-.
Wolf, you’re smart! I knew school lunches tasted like crap, but I had no idea how or why.
Poor spent hens, I kinda identify with them.
Mom, Don’t start thinking like that now
Mely read your comment and couldn’t stop laughing.
I just finished watching Food INC. With my classes and all I can say is WOW! Our whole food system is screwed. Although in Canada we regulate a bit differently than down in the States, because of NAFTA we are becoming more Americanized in the way we produce food for our population and it is very scary. School Lunches seem to be the epitome of the issue at hand.
Keith, I have not seen Food INC. But, I’ve heard all about it. You’re right, everything from the way we distribute to cultivate our food is completely screwed up. School lunches are simply the worst of what we have to offer.
In the Province I live in the Government has put into place what is called Healthy Schools program and all schools must follow the rules which include. getting rid of Chips and Chocolate Bars, Soda, fries or anything deep fried and it has all been replaced with what appears to be real food.
It is certainly more costly and the kids don’t like it but… It is a step in the right direction. One entrepreneurial kid went to costco and bought a bunch of junk food and sold it out of the trunk of his car but that has been stopped.
Interesting times we live in.
Keith, That’s a great initiative! More schools need to do that. Now, if they would just tackle the substandard meat problem they might have a completely acceptable meal. That kid you talk about sounds a lot like my friend who did the same thing. He was even told not to do it but it was so profitable that he continued anyway. Wound up getting suspended for it
I am apparently a foodie and I love all your food posts. EWW, the junior mints were probably much safer.
I stopped eating school lunches when my mom become the crazy lunch lady (really she did and she would try to leave the kitchen and hug me and be crazy when she saw me) it was about 4th grade.
I am on a list for some organization trying to get the legislation passed and every 3-6 months I e-mail my congress person a form letter they write (I read it first okay) and sign my name to it.
.-= Native Momma´s last blog ..Meatless Monday Mingle =-.
Native Momma, The lunch lady ?
Wow, I haven’t heard that before. I knew a girl, Cathy, who’s mom was the lunch lady. She did the same sort of thing. Embarrassed her daughter to no end coming out of the kitchen to chat and stuff! LOL so funny. I’m glad you’re politically active with the issue. That might deserve another post in itself. Things we can do to change the situation. Excellent.
Yet another reason to homeschool, right? No sub-standard meats and unhealthy meals!
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Running Gear Giveaway: Bumbleride Indie or Indie Twin =-.
Stephanie, I guess that true. Homeschooling sort of makes it all a moot point for me.
This kind of stuff really worries me. That’s why I’m happy to pack my kids’ lunch each morning. At least I know what’s in it as most of the time I use leftovers from dinner.