HF 341 (LSB 2184YH (4) 90)

HOUSE FILE 341

BY  SHIPLEY

A BILL FOR

An Act prohibiting the use of margarine and hydrogenated vegetable oil in school meals.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 283A.1, subsection 1, Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  “Nutritionally adequate meal” means a lunch or breakfast which meets the guidelines established by the department of education.  Such guidelines shall prohibit the use of margarine or hydrogenated vegetable oil as part of a nutritionally adequate meal. The guidelines shall instead provide for the use of butter, provided that coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil may be substituted for butter when necessary to accommodate a student’s dietary restrictions.
    Sec. 2.  STUDENT CONSUMPTION OF MARGARINE AND HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL —— LEGISLATIVE INTENT.  The general assembly finds that the proliferation of margarine and hydrogenated vegetable oil is hindering the growth and development of healthy children. As such, the general assembly further finds that schools should serve or prepare food with butter as a part of a nutritionally adequate meal when appropriate and coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil when necessary to accommodate a student’s dietary restrictions.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill prohibits the serving of margarine and hydrogenated vegetable oil at schools.
   Currently, school breakfast and lunch programs may only serve foods that are deemed a nutritionally adequate meal by department of education (DE) guidelines. The bill prohibits DE guidelines from determining that any food containing margarine or hydrogenated vegetable oil is a nutritionally adequate meal. The bill requires the guidelines to instead provide for the use of butter, provided that coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil may be substituted for butter when necessary to accommodate a student’s dietary restrictions.
   The bill states findings by the general assembly relating to children’s consumption of margarine and hydrogenated vegetable oil.