Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Richard Hanna Support Chobani's Expansion Efforts
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: August 31, 2012
National school lunch programs feed nearly 31 million students every day. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Richard Hanna are trying to add a healthy new option to the menu here in New York. Eyewitness News reporter Rachel Polansky visited the Chobani Yogurt Plant and spoke with the Senator and Congressman about the health benefits of including greek yogurt in the lunchroom.
"This is not only for Chobani. This is for the farmers, for the community, and in a bigger picture, for the farmers of america.," says Hamdi Ulukaya, Chobani President and CEO.
Greek yogurt contains twice the amount of protein as regular yogurt. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Richard Hanna are urging the USDA to include Greek yogurt as a lunch option in our schools.
"We want to make sure that they can have more access to it, particularly in the school lunch program. If it's designated as a protein source, it can be served as part of school lunches more readily," says Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
Senator Gillibrand and Congressman Hanna are asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reclassify Greek yogurt under the MyPlate nutrition guides as a protein source.
"The inclusion of Greek yogurt in this program would save our school systems money while purchasing wholesome meals for our students," says Senator Gillibrand.
"Make a healthy nutritious product, keep it natural, keep it accessible, which is making it for everybody," says Ulukaya.
And Congressman Hanna says Greek yogurt is a booming industry in Central New York that is creating jobs and helping area farmers.
"There are 1200 people working right here at chobani now. And there are people, generations of people, that want to stay in farming, that want to go into farming. This is an opportunity for rebirthing the agricultural business in terms of dairy for upstate New York," says Congressman Hanna.
And the price is definitely right for schools on a budget, as it's cheaper than some other proteins.
"80% of the economy is somehow related back to agriculture," says Congressman Hanna.
"If you can replace a meat source with yogurt. It's less expensive then a meat source and equally as healthy," says Senator Gillibrand.
So when can we expect to see greek yogurt on the lunch menu?
"I'm hoping if we can get the rule changed by the end of the year, they can change their orders and requests and menus for the new year," says Senator Gillibrand.
Senator Gillibrand and Congressman Hanna say its a win for a students, and a win for our community.
"This is not only for Chobani. This is for the farmers, for the community, and in a bigger picture, for the farmers of america.," says Hamdi Ulukaya, Chobani President and CEO.
Greek yogurt contains twice the amount of protein as regular yogurt. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Richard Hanna are urging the USDA to include Greek yogurt as a lunch option in our schools.
"We want to make sure that they can have more access to it, particularly in the school lunch program. If it's designated as a protein source, it can be served as part of school lunches more readily," says Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
Senator Gillibrand and Congressman Hanna are asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reclassify Greek yogurt under the MyPlate nutrition guides as a protein source.
"The inclusion of Greek yogurt in this program would save our school systems money while purchasing wholesome meals for our students," says Senator Gillibrand.
"Make a healthy nutritious product, keep it natural, keep it accessible, which is making it for everybody," says Ulukaya.
And Congressman Hanna says Greek yogurt is a booming industry in Central New York that is creating jobs and helping area farmers.
"There are 1200 people working right here at chobani now. And there are people, generations of people, that want to stay in farming, that want to go into farming. This is an opportunity for rebirthing the agricultural business in terms of dairy for upstate New York," says Congressman Hanna.
And the price is definitely right for schools on a budget, as it's cheaper than some other proteins.
"80% of the economy is somehow related back to agriculture," says Congressman Hanna.
"If you can replace a meat source with yogurt. It's less expensive then a meat source and equally as healthy," says Senator Gillibrand.
So when can we expect to see greek yogurt on the lunch menu?
"I'm hoping if we can get the rule changed by the end of the year, they can change their orders and requests and menus for the new year," says Senator Gillibrand.
Senator Gillibrand and Congressman Hanna say its a win for a students, and a win for our community.
