The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approves a comprehensive nutrition bill that would ban schools from serving lunches that contain ultra-processed foods. Covington Senator Patrick McMath says child obesity is a real problem, and the state needs to do a better job in prioritizing health.
“The foods that we’re eating didn’t exist 80 years ago. Our bodies don’t know how to process these ultra-processed foods that are derived or comprised of synthetic ingredients,” McMath said.
Much of the discussion on McMath’s bill was on a provision that prohibits SNAP recipients from using their benefits to purchase soft drinks.
“I genuinely believe it undermines the goal of the SNAP program by including a non-debatable item that is absolutely
not nutritious,” McMath said.
Democrats on the Senate Health and Welfare Committee say McMath’s bill dictates what low-income parents can purchase with their SNAP benefits. Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews was the first one to speak out.
“The concern is that we are singling out low-income parents from making the choice for their children,” Jackson-Andrews said.
McMath’s bill prohibits schools from serving school lunches that contain specific artificial colors and additives. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau questioned why just school lunches: What about sugary alcoholic drinks that adults consume?
“I guarantee you those dyes are found in alcoholic drinks throughout the state of Louisiana. If we’re going to look at this problem as a systemic problem for the state of Louisiana, which I believe it is, I think it’s only fair that we look at all of those things,” Luneau said.
The measure heads to the Senate floor.
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