ORLANDO, Fla. — A federal push to make school lunches healthier is facing hurdles as older school kitchens struggle to meet new standards.
The White House has proposed a shift to from-scratch meals, but many schools say their facilities are ill-equipped to handle fresh food preparation.
Federal grants are offering millions of dollars for equipment upgrades to help districts modernize their food service operations.
However, school officials report that the available funding is not enough to cover the extensive facility improvements needed.
According to the School Nutrition Association, more than 93% of schools report lacking the necessary equipment to complete the transition to from-scratch meal preparation.
School officials report that older facilities lack adequate floor space, specialized ovens or sufficient refrigeration to store and prepare fresh ingredients.
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