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State Agencies Will Serve More Pork

February 11, 1999
By: Melissa Miller
State Capital Bureau

JEFFERSON CITY - Bacon on Monday, ham sandwiches on Tuesday and pork chops on Wednesday -- could this be the new menu in Columbia Public Schools?

Five state agencies, including the Education Department, will be stepping up their pork purchases in response to an executive order issued by Gov. Mel Carnahan this week.

The order will mean more pork-based meals at state schools, hospitals and prisons.

"It won't mean we're serving bacon at every breakfast," said Deb Hendricks, spokesman for the Social Services Department. "We will include leaner cuts, like pork chops, to continue to provide healthy meals." Social Services will increase their pork consumption by 50 percent.

Corrections will purchase an additional 224,000 pounds of pork, and the Mental Health Department will serve 12 percent more pork. Public schools and higher education institutions also have been asked to buy more of "the other white meat."

State officials stressed the influx of pork into state menus will not compromise nutrition becausee the increase in pork will not come in the form of fatty sausage or bacon, but more often in pork steaks and loins.

"It's the leaner cuts we will be substituting into the menu, for example pork loin for roast beef," said Rosalind Wilkins, dietitian for the Mental Health Department.

Health concerns aside, serving up more pork more could present conflicts for people who avoid swine for religious reasons.

"It would be unfair to some religious students, like Jews and Muslims, if pork was the only meat available," said Yossi Feintuch, a rabbi in Columbia. "If that's the case, it is a situation the governor should address."

But Columbia schools say there is no need for concern.

"We have many different students and we always have many different choices," said Pat Brooks, food services director for the Columbia school district. She's the person who decides what ends up on the cafeteria lunch trays.

Brooks said the increased amount of pork could end up on the lunch tables as sausage patties, ham sandwiches and rib-b-que -- a ground pork product shaped like a side of ribs. Pork is a popular item with the students, she said.

Carnahan's order shows the state is committed to helping pork producers in their current plight, said the House Agriculture chairman -- Rep. Sam Leake, D-Center. He said he hopes increased demand will keep the farmers in business.

Currently, it costs hog farmers about 40 cents a pound to produce pork, and they get only eight cents a pound at market, Leake said.