Schumer presses for Greek yogurt in schools

NORWICH -- Sen. Charles Schumer asked federal officials yesterday to make it more affordable for public schools to serve Greek yogurt, saying it would expose more students to the high-protein food and boost an already booming business in New York.

Schumer (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack asking him to modify the federal school lunch program to add Greek yogurt as a high-protein meat alternative.

He promoted his case during visits upstate to the corporate headquarters of Chobani in Norwich and the Fage plant in Johnstown, two of the nation's largest Greek yogurt producers.

School nutritional standards treat Greek yogurt the same as traditional yogurt, despite the higher protein content and cost of Greek yogurt, Schumer said. His intent is to make it easier for schools to purchase smaller, less costly servings of Greek yogurt, which has 15 to 20 grams of protein per 6-ounce serving.

"With a stroke of a pen Secretary Vilsack could provide healthier foods for New York's schoolchildren and an economic boost for yogurt makers and dairy farmers, two of the state's most important industries," Schumer said.

Chobani and Fage buy tons of milk from dairy farmers in the region.The U.S. Department of Agriculture did not comment.-- AP