= Vegetable. Only in America…

Never underestimate the power of well-organised and well-funded lobby group, especially when it comes to federal regulations in the United States, as opponents to the obesity and health crisis in American schools were unable to convince the US Congress that frozen pizza is not a vegetable.

The American Frozen Foods Institute (AFFI) is a trade association, made up of all the largest frozen food producers in America, such as McCains, Heinz, ConAgra and Schwann, that has spent the last few months lobbying against a bill introduced into Congress that would force federal schools to better regulate the content of their lunch menus towards healthier and more nutritious options.

The reason for the fearsome fightback from the frozen fooders? Well, under current legislation- products such as frozen pizza and french freedom fries are classified as vegetables, and are treated as such when being dealt out to porky little Yanks every day at school lunch- i.e. as sides to meaty, fatty mains. Needless to say, the companies behind the AFFI are making millions, given the hundreds of thousands of school going kiddies shovelling in their “veg” every day.

A vegetable medley! (Yes, bread and cheese included)

Opponents of this gluttonous cholesterol-fest, including First Lady, Michelle Obama (who has pioneered a programme in American schools to get kids exercising and eating better) were dealt a body blow this week as the House of Representatives rejected the proposed amendments to the law, that would re-classify frozen foods like fries and pizza as not vegetable. Long story short, the Pizza Lobby won this round, and frozen pizza, among other frozen, fat-drenched foodstuffs, as they stand on school lunch menus, remains a vegetable.

Thanks to Mathew S for the link!

[Source: Reuters]