Feds Fine Utah High School For Selling Soda During Lunch! [POLL]

The Food Police Strike Again!  The Federal Government is going to trash the fine arts program at a Salt Lake City high school because of the fine.

Davis high school turned off the vending machine in the cafeteria during the 47 minute lunch hour, per Federally mandated law.  But apparently a similar soda machine in the library was not turned off, and the Feds found out, and fined the school .75 cents per student--to the tune of $15,000!   The school will now have to make cuts in it's fine arts program to make up the fine to the Feds.

  It's part of the Federal effort (if you can call it that) to force kids to eat more healthy foods.   Often referred to as the "Food Police", the Federal agencies overseeing these programs and laws crack down hard on schools.  However,  because certain candy bars contain nuts, they are allowed to be sold in schools. So in Davis High in Salt Lake City,  Snickers bars are ok!   

  We wondered if such laws exist in Washington or Tri-City Schools.  According to the website of the National Association Of State Boards Of Education, here is what is on the books for Washington:

RCW 28A.210.365 (2007) states that its a goal of Washington state to ensure that by 2010, "only healthy food and beverages provided by schools during school hours or for school-sponsored activities shall be available on school campuses.

  The story goes on to list what the mandated healthy standards are for lunch or school food.  You can read the entire list here.  (Just scroll down to Washington).   The fine is the result of a confusing system of Federal laws defining what can and cannot be sold during school,  during lunch, and after school.  In a nutshell, the school was dinged for selling what is called 'food with minimum nutritional value' in competition to often Federally funded school lunch programs.  If the Feds supply funds for your school lunches, they demand complete compliance with their standards. 

 Such bans and removal of soda and vending machines from schools have already created "black market" operations in LA where students smuggle FMNV's into school and sell them at higher prices to other students! (FMNV is Federal-speak for 'Foods with Minimal Nutritional Value). 

 What are your thoughts on this?   Does the Federal Government have the right to fine and 'punish' schools for vending machines, candy, or other "non-healthy" foods?  Take our poll.