WASHINGTON — The struggle over what to do about school food emerged anew Thursday when health experts told a House panel that Congress should raise nutrition standards, but a school-board lobbyist warned against new federal mandates or measures that would kill school food sales. Even New York first lady Michelle Paterson, who said she promotes healthy eating, told lawmakers, ‘As you advocate for improving standards for school foods, I ask you also to examine the costs to states to supply healthier foods.’ That tension between health and economics in the hearing, chaired by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola), echoed findings of a Newsday series on school lunches last year. McCarthy, a former nurse, called the hearing by the Healthy Families and Communities subcommittee to address the growing problem of child obesity and attendant ailments. She said reducing obesity comes down to healthy eating and physical activity. ‘One of the best tools we have to combat these illnesses is our ability to provide wholesome and healthy nutrition to children in school,’ she said. Congress is weighing measures that could have a big impact on the kind of foods available in school lunchrooms and vending machines. The […]