http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6430258/

I agree this report is shocking but why don't they say how much funds have been taken away from the school districts to ensure Food Safety is a priority? I work as a Food Services Manager in a County Hospital and every year it is a battle in getting funds to replace old and worn out equipment, maintain staffing (we are not considered a priority (that is until the first patient doesn't get fed and we are in state violation) My staff is one of the lowest paid in the county but we have it better than most school districts- most of them have to hire part-time employees with little or no benefits. Can you imagine the retention problem when you can't even offer a 40 hour work week and have to take a second job just to have health benefits and support your family-and the hardship of trying to balance the schedule of both jobs and still have a life? As far as training-I haven't met a Food Services manager yet that does not place this as a priority but is never given the resources to assist in keeping current with new food codes and compliance ordinances. In this respect the school districts have it a little easier because there are some grants that they can apply for (if they have the time to go through the process) to help them in this area. I am not condoning that the findings of the report are not valid but there are so many other elements that play into it.

School cafeteria programs have to run in the black. Cutting corners helps the operating budgets of every school district in America. Kids have been systematically denied healthy food served in a clean environment for a long time. School Superintentent's make painful trade-offs because schools are under funded and over tested.