Kids don’t need deep fryers

After Texas made great strides in improving nutrition for its school children, new state Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is cooking up — with a deep fryer no less — a scheme to turn back the clock.

Ten years ago the Texas Department of Agriculture instituted a Public School Nutrition Policy that included a ban on deep-fat fryers and soda machines on campuses as well as limited the days that certain junk foods could be sold.

Miller has threatened to lift those restrictions.

Although Miller says this issue is about “freedom” rather than french fries, he should understand that this is really about one thing: children’s health.

To abandon these policies would have a negative effect, something former Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs said “defies logic” considering Texas is experiencing an epidemic of childhood obesity.

We agree.

This story was originally published April 27, 2015 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Kids don’t need deep fryers."