New contracts won’t include some food dyes, sweeteners
From the Gazette. Read the whole story here.
October 16, by Lindsay A. Powers, Staff Writer
Montgomery County students will be seeing fewer dyes, artificial
sweeteners and other chemical additives in their food after a recent
decision by school officials to add to a list of banned ingredients.
As Montgomery County Public Schools enters into new contracts with
food vendors, the system will require that foods be free of the Blue 2,
Green 3, Red 3, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 food dyes, aspartame,
acesulfame-potassium, butylated hydroxyanisole, potassium bromate,
propyl gallate, saccharin, sodium tripolyphosphate and
tert-Butylhydroquinone, said Marla Caplon, director of food and
nutrition services for the school system. Existing contracts won’t be
affected.
And:
Lindsey Parsons, co-founder of Real Food for Kids-Montgomery, said
the change marks “a huge step.” Her organization, which includes more
than 3,500 members, has advocated for healthier foods in county school
cafeterias.
She said Real Food appreciates the school system’s decision given the number of items that will be affected.
“We recognize that that’s a big give for them,” she said.
The organization still wants to see other chemicals banned as well,
including other food dyes and substances similar to MSG. Parsons said
Real Food’s main concern is that the chemical additives that remain in
school foods might be carcinogenic. Members are also concerned the food
dyes might cause hyperactivity in some children.
Finally:
[Marla] Caplon [MCPS Director of food and nutrition services] said some chemical additives are more prevalent in cafeteria
foods and the school system thinks there are good reasons for keeping
them.
Providing an example, she said that a caramel additive is used in
nearly all the fully cooked meat items the school system serves. The
system buys fully cooked meat due to safety reasons.
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