Yogurt OKd as Beef Substitute in School Meals

Kids who have a beef with their school menu are getting a new alternative with the government’s blessings: yogurt for lunch.

Over strenuous objections of the cattle industry, the Agriculture Department has decided to allow yogurt as a meat substitute in the nation’s school lunchrooms.

Child-care providers and the food industry have been clamoring for the change for at least 15 years.

Yogurt is low in fat and will offer a needed alternative for children who cannot or will not eat meat, said Mary Ann Keefe, USDA’s acting undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services.

The department allows schools to substitute cheese, beans, eggs and peanut butter for meat.

School lunch programs are a huge market for the food industry. The federal government subsidizes the cost of the meals and sets requirements for their nutritional value and content.

Last year the 94,000 participating schools served up 146 million pounds of beef--almost 6 pounds for each of the 25 million children who went through cafeteria lines.

“Beef offers more nutrients than yogurt does,” said Alisa Harrison, a spokeswoman for the beef industry group.

Yogurt typically costs more than meat, but requires no preparation.