A state legislature is seeking to “separate” Iowa from federal regulations to ban margarine and plant-based public school meals due to health concerns.
“Seed oils and margarine wreak havoc on our children’s health,” Iowa State Representative Jeff Shipley told Fox News. “Fake industrial fats like margarine are linked to a host of mental and physical illnesses.”
A bill in Iowa could ban margarine statewide, arguing that the butter alternative can cause disease. (iStock)
shipley’s legislation, House file 341approved by a subcommittee on February 23. Some margarine, which consists of vegetable oils and water, has been associated with higher cholesterol levels, according to Harvard Health. It also contains trans fat, which has been linked to increased depression, the National Library of Medicine reported in 2016.
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“Animal fats, or higher quality saturated fats like olive or avocado oil, are essential nutrients for children’s health and development,” Shipley said.
Both margarine and butter can pose health risks.
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Jay Cowin, a registered nutritionist, previously told Fox News that seed oil “is full of polyunsaturated fatty acids like Omega-6, which can cause inflammation and liver damage. But compared to margarine, butter contains more saturated fats, which are associated with a higher risk on heart disease.
And some experts found that increased sugar and fat intake contributed to increased rates of depression and anxiety.
Bill sponsor in Iowa says USDA guidelines are causing children to starve nutritionally. (Fox news)
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Shipley told Fox News that the text of his bill violates guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which funds public school meals. The dietary guidelines outline limited sugar and sodium intake and specific low-fat alternatives for some foods.
Shipley said the guidelines “restricted fat and protein, leaving children nutritionally starved and unhealthy.”
“Our commitment to the school meal programs stems from a common goal we all share: to keep children healthy and help them reach their full potential,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. said in a recent press release on updated school meal guidelines. “Research shows that school meals are the healthiest meals of the day for most children, proving they are an important tool in helping children access the nutrition they need for a bright future.”
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“As it has become clear that the USDA guidelines do not support children’s health, we will eventually have to separate the state of Iowa from these guidelines,” Shipley said, though acknowledging that his legislation would jeopardize USDA funding for Iowa school meals. could bring.
House File 341 awaits a full committee vote.
Megan Myers is an associate producer/writer at Fox News Digital Originals.
