Chicken nuggets to be banned at New York City public schools as new norms focus on diabetes, heart disease?

Chicken nuggets may be wiped from cafeteria menus across New York City public schools starting next summer. New food standards announced this week for nearly a dozen city agencies, including the Department of Education, will ban processed meats, create new restrictions on artificial colors and preservatives, further limit low-calorie sweeteners and aim to increase offerings of "minimally processed plant protein foods." The standards, which go into effect in July 2026, apply to public schools and hospitals and to agencies that serve older adults and homeless people, among others.

"When we came into office, we committed to ensuring all New Yorkers have access to healthy, fresh foods," said Mayor Eric Adams, who has said his own health had improved after a shift to a plant-based diet. "By looking at the meals we serve, we are making New Yorkers healthier and achieving our mission of making New York City the best place to raise a family."

What constitutes healthy eating has become increasingly politicized, from the push by Michelle Obama, the former first lady, to make school lunches healthier to the Make America Healthy Again movement spearheaded by the health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The Trump administration, in a departure from its predecessors, is now letting some states bar residents from using food stamps to buy soda and other items considered unhealthy.


The changes in New York City, issued by the Mayor's Office of Food Policy, aren't the first time Adams has tried to put his mark on school lunches. In 2022, after he introduced "Vegan Fridays," parents shared photos of their children's lunches on social media, including prepackaged burritos, bags of Tostitos chips and apple slices. Lacking the appeal and alliteration of "Taco Tuesday," the vegan day didn't catch on.

Now educators and scholars say they are concerned about how the new food standards could negatively affect children's eating habits, even if they are well-intentioned. City health officials said one goal of the new standards is to target chronic illnesses, like diabetes and heart disease, and increase life expectancy. The standards will apply to more than 219 million meals and snacks served each year, the city said.

This year, the Food and Drug Administration banned Red Dye No. 3 in food and beverages. The new standards in New York City include restrictions on artificial colors, emphasize serving whole foods and recommend that no foods be deep-fried, specifically mentioning chicken nuggets and mozzarella sticks. Fruit juices must be 100% juice, with no added sugar or sweeteners. Breads like bagels, muffins and waffles may not have more than 10 grams of added sugar per serving.

FAQs

Q1. Who developed chicken nugget?
A1. The chicken nugget was developed in the 1960s by Robert Baker, a poultry science professor at Cornell University. And then in the 1980s, the McNugget hit the market.

Q2. Why has Red Dye No. 3 been banned in food and beverages?
A2. This year, the Food and Drug Administration banned Red Dye No. 3 in food and beverages. The new standards in New York City include restrictions on artificial colors, emphasize serving whole foods and recommend that no foods be deep-fried, specifically mentioning chicken nuggets and mozzarella sticks. Fruit juices must be 100% juice, with no added sugar or sweeteners.