Struggling With the Unintended Effects of the HHFKA

Schools throughout New Jersey, as well as the rest of the country, are struggling with the unintended effects of the School Nutrition programs that resulted from the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.

While different phases of this act have been implemented over the last few years, the most onerous aspects of the new regulations took effect this September.  Specifically, the Whole Grain requirement mandated that all grains offered be whole grain rich.  This includes all breads, pizza, bagels and more.  Previously, 50% of what was offered had to be whole grain rich.

The offerings were unfamiliar to students and proved to be unpopular.  Districts experienced a drop in participation.  In a recent article from the National School Boards Association (NSBA), they reported that over 75% of districts saw a drop in participation.  NSBA also reported that over 80% of districts experienced an increase in plate waste and 81% noted an increase in costs.  

The drop in students participating, combined with higher operating costs are creating financial hardships for the district’s food service program.  The School Nutrition Association (SNA), with 55,000 food service professional members, revealed results of a study indicating that only 18% of schools anticipate they will be self-sustaining (break even). 

A CALL TO ACTION: At the end of December, 2014, Congress passed the Omnibus Bill (Public Law No. 113-235), allowing states to grant waivers from the least popular elements of this regulation.  To date, the state of New Jersey has not done so and is awaiting guidance from the USDA.  We, as the professionals representing the interests of our communities, need to encourage the federal and state legislators and agencies to move quickly on this topic.  We want our food service operations to deliver healthful, wholesome meals that are popular with our students and their parents.

NJ Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources

Chair: Assemblyman Robert "Bob" Andrzejczak (D):

Representing: Avalon, Cape May, Cape May Point, Commercial, Corbin City, Dennis, Downe,

Estell Manor, Fairfield (Cumberland), Greenwich (Cumberland), Hopewell Township

(Cumberland), Lawrence (Cumberland), Lower, Maurice River, Middle, Millville, North

Wildwood, Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Shiloh, Stone Harbor, Stow Creek, Upper, Vineland, West

Cape May, West Wildwood, Weymouth, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, Woodbine

Vice-Chair: Assemblyman Gilbert L. "Whip" Wilson (D):

Representing: Audubon, Audubon Park, Barrington, Bellmawr, Brooklawn, Camden, Deptford,

Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, Harrison Township, Lawnside, Magnolia, Mantua, Mount

Ephraim, Runnemede, Wenonah, Westville, Woodbury, Woodlynne

Assemblywoman Celeste M. Riley (D):

Representing: Alloway, Bridgeton, Carneys Point, Clayton, Deerfield, East Greenwich, Elk,

Elmer, Elsinboro, Franklin (Gloucester), Glassboro, Greenwich (Gloucester), Logan, Lower

Alloways Creek, Mannington, National Park, Newfield, Oldmans, Paulsboro, Penns Grove,

Pennsville, Pilesgrove, Pittsgrove, Quinton, Salem, South Harrison, Swedesboro, Upper

Deerfield, Upper Pittsgrove, West Deptford, Woodbury Heights, Woodstown, Woolwich

Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer (R):

Representing: Chesterfield Township, New Hanover Township, North Hanover Township,

Wrightstown Borough, Old Bridge Township, Allentown Borough, Englishtown Borough,

Manalapan Township, Matawan Borough, Millstone Township, Roosevelt Borough, Upper

Freehold Township, Jackson Township and Plumsted Township

Assemblyman Parker Space (R):

Representing: Allamuchy, Andover Borough, Andover Township, Belvidere, Blairstown,

Branchville, Byram, Frankford, Franklin (Sussex), Fredon, Frelinghuysen, Green, Hamburg,

Hampton (Sussex), Hardwick, Hardyston, Hopatcong, Hope, Independence, Knowlton,

Lafayette, Liberty, Montague, Mount Olive, Newton, Ogdensburg, Oxford, Sandyston, Sparta,

Stanhope, Stillwater, Sussex, Vernon, Walpack, Wantage, White

NJ Senate Education Committee

Chair: Senator M. Teresa Ruiz (D) (Assistant Majority Leader)

Representing: Belleville, Newark

Vice-Chair: Senator Shirley K. Turner (D)

Representing: East Amwell, Ewing, Hopewell Borough (Mercer), Hopewell Township (Mercer),

Lambertville, Lawrence (Mercer), Pennington, Trenton, West Amwell, West Windsor

Senator Diane B. Allen (R) (Deputy Republican Leader)

Representing: Beverly, Bordentown, Bordentown Township, Burlington, Burlington Township,

Cinnaminson, Delanco, Delran, Edgewater Park, Fieldsboro, Florence, Moorestown, Mount

Laurel, Palmyra, Riverside, Riverton, Willingboro

Senator James Beach (D) (Assistant Majority Leader)

Berlin Township, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, Gibbsboro, Haddon, Haddonfield, Hi-Nella, Maple

Shade, Merchantville, Oaklyn, Pennsauken, Somerdale, Stratford, Tavistock, Voorhees

Senator Michael J. Doherty (R)

Representing: Alexandria, Alpha, Bedminster, Bethlehem, Bloomsbury, Bound Brook,

Bridgewater, Califon, Clinton, Clinton Township, Franklin (Hunterdon), Franklin (Warren),

Frenchtown, Glen Gardner, Greenwich (Warren), Hackettstown, Hampton (Hunterdon),

Harmony, High Bridge, Holland, Kingwood, Lebanon Borough, Lebanon Township, Lopatcong,

Mansfield (Warren), Milford, Peapack-Gladstone, Phillipsburg, Pohatcong, Raritan (Somerset),

South Bound Brook, Tewksbury, Union (Hunterdon), Washington Borough (Warren),

Washington Township (Warren)

NJ Senate Health and Human Services Committee

Chair: Senator Joseph F. Vitale (D)

Representing: Carteret, Perth Amboy, Sayreville, South Amboy, Woodbridge

Vice-Chair: Senator Fred H. Madden Jr. (D)

Representing: Chesilhurst, Clementon, Gloucester Township, Laurel Springs, Lindenwold,

Monroe (Gloucester), Pitman, Washington (Gloucester), Winslow

Senator Dawn Marie Addiego (R)

Representing: Berlin Borough, Eastampton, Evesham, Hainesport, Hammonton, Lumberton,

Mansfield (Burlington), Medford, Medford Lakes, Mount Holly, Pemberton Borough,

Pemberton Township, Pine Hill, Pine Valley, Shamong, Southampton, Springfield (Burlington),

Waterford, Westampton, Woodland

Senator Diane B. Allen (R) (Deputy Republican Leader)

Representing: Beverly, Bordentown, Bordentown Township, Burlington, Burlington Township,

Cinnaminson, Delanco, Delran, Edgewater Park, Fieldsboro, Florence, Moorestown, Mount

Laurel, Palmyra, Riverside, Riverton, Willingboro

Senator Richard J. Codey (D)

Representing: Caldwell, Chatham Township, East Hanover, Essex Fells, Florham Park, Hanover,

Harding, Livingston, Madison, Maplewood, Millburn, Roseland, South Orange, West Orange

Senator Robert M. Gordon (D) (Majority Conference Leader)

Representing: Bergenfield, Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, Hasbrouck Heights, Hawthorne, Lodi,

Maywood, New Milford, Oradell, Paramus, River Edge, Rochelle Park, Saddle Brook

Senator Ronald L. Rice (D)

Representing: Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Newark, Nutley

Senator Robert W. Singer (R) (Conference Leader)

Representing: Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brielle, Farmingdale, Howell, Lake

Como, Lakewood, Manasquan, Point Pleasant, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, Wall

Senator Jim Whelan (D)

Representing: Absecon, Atlantic City, Brigantine, Buena, Buena Vista, Egg Harbor City, Egg

Harbor Township, Folsom, Hamilton (Atlantic), Linwood, Longport, Margate City, Mullica,

Northfield, Pleasantville, Somers Point, Ventnor City