title: Analysis of interest group influence on federal school meals regulations 1992 to 1996.
abstract: Regulatory changes proposed by the US Department of Agriculture in 1994 promised to bring progressive changes to school meals. However, lobbying by interest groups resulted in substantial changes to the final rule. This analysis retrospectively examines the federal school meals policy-making process during 1992 to 1996. Key questions address why the policy changed and what the role of interest groups was in affecting the shape, pace, and direction of the policy. The study provides suggestions for using the experiences of 1992 to 1996 to guide future advocacy efforts and for adapting the approach for application to other food and nutrition policies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7411, USA. suzanne_havalahobbs@unc.edu
authors.forename: Suzanne Havala
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hobbs
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Ricketts
authors.forename: Janice M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dodds
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003255:Consumer Organizations; D019649:Food Industry; D005522:Food Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008119:Lobbying; D008402:Mass Media; D018673:Nutrition Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011050:Policy Making; D011057:Politics; D012574:Schools / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States; D016885:United States Department of Agriculture; D014837:Voluntary Health Agencies