Yogurt is approved as substitute for meat in school lunches

Jet, March 24, 1997

School students opting to forgo the cheeseburger or chicken nuggets during lunch will soon be able to choose yogurt as a substitute.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made a new rule to allow eight ounces of yogurt to be substituted for two ounces of meat in school lunches. The USDA says the substitution would still offer the nutrients it recommends.

Some meat substitutes, such as cheese and peanut butter, are already allowed. However, acting USDA undersecretary Mary Ann Keeffe said many school food service directors asked for the yogurt option as a way to lower fat content.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association argues that schools already have enough meat substitutes, and yogurt doesn't contain all of the nutrients that meat does.

Nearly 26 million students eat school lunch every day, and the federal government subsidizes the cost of the meal and sets guidelines for their nutrition and content.