Has nothing to do with nutrition and everything to do with profit!
The National Potato Council lobbyists induced Congress to add a clause to the 2014 omnibus appropriations bill. When President Obama signed that bill on January 17, he directed the USDA to allow all varieties of fresh, whole, or cut vegetables to be included. Translation: white potatoes, and French fries at that.
If the USDA fails to comply, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack must submit a report to Congress explaining why not.
The National Potato Council makes this statement: “This action sends a clear message to USDA that it is obligated to base its nutritional policy on the latest nutritional science, which calls for an increase in starchy vegetable consumption for all Americans, including WIC mothers and children.”
It does? I’m not aware of such science.
The Institute of Medicine is currently reviewing the WIC package and I seriously doubt that it will find a deficiency of starchy vegetables in American diets.
This is about getting potato growers a chunk of taxpayer money spent for the WIC program.
via Food Politics » The fight over white potatoes in WIC.
Like this:
Like Loading...