Vegetarian Meals Remain Schools’ Option
The Education and Health committees deferred Senate Bill 2136 yesterday, which would require the Hawai`i Department of Health to give Hawai`i children the option of a vegetarian school lunch. Various community members, including Hesh Goldstein of K-108 Radio and a representative from the Hawai`i Medical Services Association, spoke in support of the bill.
The Hawai`i Department of Education testified that while it supports the notion for the DOH to develop vegetarian meal options, it doesn’t support a law that requires it. The DOE said that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has set standards that are nutritionally sound and that the Hawai`i School Food Authority serves over 100,000 school meals a day that meet those standards. The Department of Health also opposed the bill. Testimony, Late Testimony