School Lunches Flunk Nutrition Test

Detroit, Houston and Philadelphia school districts received failing grades from a physician's organization for not providing nutritious school lunches.

In their annual school lunch report card, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine also scored three other school districts in large cities with a grade of D. They included school districts in Las Vegas, Dallas, and Los Angeles.

The committee has been labeled as an animal rights front organization by several organizations, including the American Medical Association. Representatives from the Philadelphia school district claim the group isn't a legitimate organization.

PCRM's leader, Dr. Neal Barnard, has been identified as medical adviser to the radical animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, according to William Jarvis of the National Council Against Health Fraud.

PCRM's nutrition department graded the nutritional quality of the elementary school lunches served in 10 of the largest United States school districts participating in the federally assisted National School Lunch Program. The program is operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"If we're going to reverse current trends of childhood obesity and diabetes, we've got to get more low-fat and vegetarian meals on the school menus," said Jen Keller, staff dietitian for PCRDM.

Dietitians at the organization analyzed 15 days' worth of menus for each school, awarding points based on whether the institution met the USDA's standard nutrition guidelines and how frequently it offered low-fat vegetable side dishes, whole or dried fruit, hot meatless and vegan entrées, and cholesterol-free options.

Schools earned extra points for offering non-dairy, calcium-rich beverages.

According to a nutrition representative at the Philadelphia School district, PCRDM is a radical group that is anti-meat and anti-milk products. The school district said the research has no credibility because nutrition grades were based on how much milk or meat they served.

A school district representative said they contacted the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and went over their menus with them. The school said it was assured that its menus were well within federal standards.

The study found that the Broward County School District in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was a bright spot; it scored 85 out of 100 points for the nutritional value of its lunch program.

"Kids need more fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains and fewer greasy hamburgers, chicken nuggets, and French fries. Learning how to eat right is a lesson that will benefit them for life," said Keller, a registered dietitian.

PCRM bills itself as a nonprofit organization that promotes preventive medicine, especially good nutrition, and conducts clinical research trials. The group, based in Washington, D.C., was founded in 1985.

See Lunch Report Card