The Trump administration has relaxed nutrition requirements for school lunches that were championed by former First Lady Michelle Obama, winning praise from two associations.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced Monday the federal government would postpone planned reductions in sodium in school foods, relax requirements for whole grains and allow sweetened milk to be served again, BBC News reported. http://bbc.in/2pCd6Ga

The Obama administration had imposed the school lunch requirements to fight childhood obesity—one of the former first lady's top causes. But groups such as SNA complained that schoolchildren were simply choosing not to buy lunch rather than eat the food provided, causing school lunch programs to lose revenue.

"School nutrition professionals are committed to the students they serve and will continue working with (U.S. Department of Agriculture) and the Secretary to strengthen and protect school meal programs," SNA CEO Patricia Montague said. http://bit.ly/2p26kYc

The National Milk Producers Federation also was pleased with the decision. The Obama's administration decision to ban low-fat flavored milk led to a decline in milk consumption at schools, according to the group.

"In just the first two years after low-fat flavored milk was removed from the program, 1.1 million fewer school students drank milk with their lunch," NMPF CEO Jim Mulhern said. "Secretary Perdue's action today recognizes that a variety of milks and other healthy dairy foods are integral to child nutrition programs in schools." http://bit.ly/2pCe3OK

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