‘Unrealistic and potentially dangerous’: New Mexico’s universal school meal program is riddled with impractical, expensive rules, critics say

Proposed reforms to New Mexico’s universal school meal program are being blasted by critics as costly and nonsensical.

The New Mexico Public Education Department proposed a list of rules for its new universal school meal program, which Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham approved last year.

Some of the new rules require half of all meals to be “freshly prepared at an onsite kitchen” and schools to offer “at least three items on a weekly basis from New Mexico farms, ranches, or food businesses.” 

While the proposals sound innocent enough, the Rio Grande Foundation, an economic policy think tank, questioned their practicality. 

“We support New Mexico farms, ranches, and food businesses, but also recognize that this regulation could impose outsized costs on schools for little or no benefit to children consuming the meals,” Rio Grande wrote. “What happens in January and February when the growing season ends? 

“What is the benefit of decentralized food preparation in onsite kitchens as opposed to a centralized facility? What will the costs of installing food prep equipment and hiring staff at schools be?” 

The PED also wants half of schools to either grow their own food on campus or display resources promoting “locally sourced nutrition education” in their cafeteria.  

“The first rule is completely unrealistic and potentially dangerous (food borne illnesses are real and can be deadly). It will require significant labor (especially during the summer growing season) not to mention the application of fertilizer and pesticides to significant tracts of land on school property,” Rio Grande explained. 

“The 2nd option is a recognition that growing large amounts of food on campus is unrealistic.”  

Finally, New Mexico wants half its schools to have a composting program, which could potentially be dangerous as compost facilities are known to spontaneously combust.  

And even if it was safe, it still wouldn’t be practical. 

“Composting large quantities of food will require significant land and proper management,” Rio Grande commented. “All of this requires significant human and land resources.” 

New Mexico isn’t the only state implementing a universal school meal program, though many critics have questioned their necessity since low-income students already get free meals through federal programs. 

Additionally, universal meal programs may increase food waste in public schools.  

World Wildlife Fund estimates U.S. schools already waste 530,000 tons of food per year – the equivalent of $9.7 million a day. A study from Penn State University found U.S. schools waste significantly more food than other developed countries, with rates ranging as high as 53%.  

And school meals are more costly than homemade ones too. 

Research from the Journal of Child Nutrition and Management shows homemade lunches cost about $1.55 per meal while school lunches cost more than $2. And more than half of school funds are spent on labor, supplies, facilities and administrative services – not food.