congress wants more potatoes in gov't program

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BUDGET_BATTLE_POTATOES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-01-16-03-15-10

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Nutritionists say Americans don't need more white potatoes. Congress disagrees - again.

Lawmakers are encouraging the agriculture secretary to allow low-income pregnant and nursing mothers to buy white potatoes with the vouchers they receive as part of a government program. That goes against the advice of the Institute of Medicine, which advises the government on health issues. The institute has said recipients of such aid already eat enough white potatoes.

It's not that white potatoes themselves aren't nutritious. But they're often used to make french fries, which are usually fried or baked in unhealthy fats and oils. Since 2009, the Agriculture Department has allowed participants in the federal Women, Infants and Children program to buy fruits and vegetables with their vouchers, just not white potatoes on recommendation of the institute.

Although the Obama administration has tried on a few occasions to limit the amount of money the government spends on feeding people white potatoes, lawmakers from the roughly 40 potato-growing states, backed by the potato lobby, have worked to turn back those efforts. They voted to thwart the Agriculture Department's 2011 recommendation that french fries only be served twice a week in federally subsidized school lunches.

[DetlefK]

1. Who wants some veggies?

[AngryAmish]

2. No potato? Such is life.