Man Spills Tea on Where Public Schools Buy Their Food, and It's Eye-Opening

Something has been amiss with America’s food supply for several decades. Most people agree things don’t taste like they did when they were kids, and certainly, Americans’ waistlines also show a change. Whether processed oils, synthetic sweeteners, artificial colors, flavors, or a mix of these factors is still an intensely debated topic.

School lunches have been a controversial topic since Michelle Obama changed these programs in the mid-2000s. While it's widely known that kids weren't big fans of these produce-rich choices, it might surprise you to learn where the food is sourced from.

Check out this video from July 10 to see who’s supplying public school cafeterias.

On a recent podcast episode of Ninjas Are Butterflies (@ ninjasarebutterflies ), they discussed the little-known fact that the Department of Defense (DoD) plays a role in providing children with school lunches . While this might sound like a strange claim, it’s true. However, given the many examples of the potential for government inefficiency, it’s fair to question whether a program like this saves money or improves the quality of the food kids are eating.

Related: Dad’s Money Saving Hack for Lunch Meat Is Perfect for Back to School

Why Is the DoD Involved With School Lunches?

President Harry Truman signed the National School Lunch Act into law in 1946. This program began when government officials and our Defense Department were concerned that children were developing medical conditions because of malnourishment that prevented them from being drafted into the military. As this was a matter of national security, the Department of Defense became involved with children’s nutrition.

According to the USDA website, “The USDA Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program ( USDA DoD Fresh ) allows schools to use USDA Foods entitlement dollars to buy fresh produce. USDA DoD Fresh operates through a partnership between the USDA and the DoD Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and the state-distributing agencies in each participating state.” The program itself is said to provide children with more options than would typically be available, using American locally-grown produce. It is also said to monitor school spending and food quality. However, it’s not the only source schools use to purchase food; some may not even participate in the program.

People shared their experiences. Viewer @JillianRenee reported, “As a current lunch lady, I can confirm we get DoD deliveries monthly. However, that’s not the only source.” Good to know. Viewer @DukeRohrbaugh revealed, “I work at Sysco. Every August, the head of the local county school comes in and builds the county’s school menu.” Local distributors are likely the most significant supplier for most districts. Viewer @Brad remarked, “Good to know because back in the early 80s, they bought the best pizza I’ve ever eaten, and I’d love to have some of it again.” This story also made me remember those times. I can confirm there was something unique about that pizza, and nothing compares to it today.

It’s hard to know if this program still provides kids with healthier choices and helps districts save money. If there's more transparency one day, seeing whether there are significant benefits would be interesting.

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