Progress! Jamie Oliver Pushes Los Angeles Schools to Drop Sweetened Milks

by Jessica Belsky · 2011-04-28 09:14:00 UTC
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Jamie Oliver came to Los Angeles to film the second season of his popular Food Revolution reality series. But so far, the nation's second-largest school district has been schooling him on just how difficult change (or transparency) will be. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) blocked any of its schools from participating in Food Revolution, despite the fact that Oliver wanted to help cafeterias improve their meals.

Consider it recess, but Oliver finally caught a break. Earlier, we brought you news that the celeb chef and activist was finally granted a tour of LAUSD's central kitchen and a meeting with the new superintendent, John Deasy. Change.org members have been writing letters to Deasy and, past dealings between LAUSD and Oliver aside, Deasy is willing to play nice. Schools in the district will now drop sweetened, flavored milks for lunch and breakfast programs. Deasy and Oliver made the announcement on a recent episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Those of you who have been following the second season may remember Oliver's disappointment when only a small handful of spectators showed up to watch his school bus stunt demonstrating the massive amount of extra sugar L.A. school kids imbibe with their milk if it's flavored. But once the visual aired to the masses on ABC, Oliver clearly had a captive audience. The bus stunt was one of the many avenues Oliver tried to work healthy food into Los Angeles culture. The flavored milk ban will have a big impact on LAUSD kids, as Oliver notes that 75 percent of milk sold in the school district is flavored.

Let's keep the pressure on new superintendent John Deasy now that Oliver has his ear. Banning flavored milks is a great start, but it's important that schools be allowed to participate in the Food Revolution. It's also particularly important to continue to let the LAUSD know how you feel because the flavored milk ban still needs to go through approval by the L.A Unified Board of Education. Sign our petition, and let John Deasy know that, while you applaud his compromise, it's important that L.A. schools be allowed to participate in the Food Revolution show.

Photo credit: edenpictures via Flickr

Jessica Belsky is a freelance writer and communications manager at an environmental non-profit.

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