First lady responds to critics of healthier school meal plans with White House event

WASHINGTON – First lady Michelle Obama is answering Republicans in Congress who want to roll back healthier school meal standards. She is holding an event at the White House to highlight the success of the guidelines.

The Tuesday event is an unusual move for the first lady, who has largely stayed away from policy fights since she lobbied for congressional passage of a child nutrition law in 2010.

The director of Mrs. Obama’s Let’s Move initiative to combat childhood obesity said a Republican bill that would allow schools to opt out of the standards is “a real assault” on administration efforts to make foods healthier for kids.

Sam Kass said the event will highlight successes of schools that have implemented the standards, set by the Obama administration and Congress.