Excerpt:
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) has renewed her call for New York City public schools to provide halal meals to students of Muslim descent.
Last December, the Congresswoman sent a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that sought support for offering halal food in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).
The agency recently replied by saying that halal food is permitted under NSLP regulations but that providing it is at the discretion of local school districts. The agency also said in its response that the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has consistently encouraged school districts to consider the dietary preferences of the student populations they serve, according to a press release.