USDA Approves Soy, Tofu for Schools

Tofu and soyburgers may be coming soon to school lunch menus. The government, hoping to reduce the amount of fat that children eat, approved the use of soy as a meat substitute in federally subsidized meals for schools and day-care centers. The change will allow schools to offer an array of soy-based products, including tacos and burgers. Schools have been restricted to using soy as a food additive and only in amounts of less than 30%. Effective April 10, the USDA is dropping that limit and also will no longer require that soy be fortified with iron and zinc, nutrients found in meat.