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June 17, 2010

Mainers irate over spud snub

By Mainebiz News Staff

The Maine Potato Board in Presque Isle has taken issue with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its exclusion of potatoes in the federal government's Women, Infants and Children program.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins was part of group of 19 senators who wrote to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak asking him to include potatoes in the federal program, which provides foods for low-income and nutritionally at-risk pregnant women and their infants and children, reported the Bangor Daily News. In 2007, potatoes were excluded from the WIC-approved list of vegetables because the USDA determined most people eat enough of them.

Don Flannery, the Maine Potato Board executive director, told the newspaper potatoes have developed an undeserved reputation as unhealthy following the popularity of low-carbohydrate diets. The USDA's Food and Nutrition Service is reviewing WIC-appropriate foods and is expected to enact a final rule in February 2011.

Go to the article in the Bangor Daily News >>

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