Then why are we doing that here in Chicago?
According to a recent investigation by USA Today, the chicken purchased
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the nation's school lunch
program is more likely to be contaminated with bacteria, such as
salmonella, based upon the chickens' living conditions.
In Chicago, most of the students in Chicago Public Schools are
minorities, 91 percent, and 83 percent are enrolled in the district's
free or reduced lunch program, according to data from the Illinois
State Board of Education.
"Because the hens are stacked in pens from floor to ceiling, they are
exposed to high levels of fecal dust and subject to heavy stress, which
can contribute to higher infection rates," Michael Greger, a physician
who runs public health programs at the Humane Society of the United
States, said in the story. The chicken is more likely to be
contaminated with bacteria that can cause diseases.
In addition, chickens often suffer from osteoporosis and have
especially brittle bones that easily splinter and have been found in
the lunch meat, according to the report.
Department officials told the news publication that the meat is safe and nutritious.
In 2009, legislation was introduced in Congress to define the
nutritional standard of food in schools. The bill is in its first steps
of legislation. It would amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to
improve the nutrition and health of school children and protect the
federal investment in the national school lunch and breakfast programs.
--By Richard Thomas