HF 341: Prohibiting the use of margarine and hydrogenated vegetable oil in school meals

What it does

This bill prohibits the serving of margarine and hydrogenated vegetable oil at schools. Currently, school breakfast and lunch programs may only serve foods that are deemed a nutritionally adequate meal by department of education (DE) guidelines. The bill prohibits DE guidelines from determining that any food containing margarine or hydrogenated vegetable oil is a nutritionally adequate meal. The bill requires the guidelines to instead provide for the use of butter, provided that coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil may be substituted for butter when necessary to accommodate a student’s dietary restrictions. The bill states findings by the general assembly relating to children’s consumption of margarine and hydrogenated vegetable oil.

House subcommittee · named February 21, 2023

• Rep. Heather Hora (R) · heather.hora@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Brooke Boden (R) · brooke.boden@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Molly Buck (D)

Lobbying · 1 for, 4 against

For: Iowa State Dairy Association

Against: Iowa Association of School Boards; Rural School Advocates of Iowa; School Administrators of Iowa; Urban Education Network of Iowa

In plain words

1. February 20, 2023Filed in the House and sent to the Education committee
2. February 21, 2023House subcommittee named: Hora, Boden and Buck
3. February 23, 2023Subcommittee recommended passing it