Some Lobbyists Are Trying To Get Rid Of Michelle Obama's Healthy School Lunch Program

Make America's school lunches unhealthy again?

According to CNN, a nonprofit group called the School Nutrition Association seeks to reverse nutrition standards enacted by the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which Michelle Obama championed in the White House.

Earlier in March, the lobbying group urged "practical flexibility under federal nutrition standards to prepare healthy, appealing meals." Essentially, as CNN noted, the group is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow saltier foods in school lunches and cut whole grain requirements in half.

While the legislation — one of Obama's signature accomplishments as first lady — has been praised by some for calling necessary attention to school lunch nutrition, it didn't earn widespread acclaim — particularly from students and Republicans.

As theGrio pointed out, irked kids started the #ThanksMichelleObama hashtag on Twitter to call attention to their healthier yet unappetizing lunches. Many students reportedly ended up throwing out their meals because they didn't taste as good as unhealthier options.

And New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie once deemed Obama's program an example of unnecessary governmental overreach.

"Using the government to mandate her point of view on what people should be eating everyday is none of (Obama's) business," Christie told an Iowa town hall in January 2016. 

The association's statement on Obama's legislation echoed those concerns: "Overly prescriptive regulations have resulted in unintended consequences, including reduced student lunch participation, higher costs, and food waste," it wrote on its website. 

"Federal nutrition standards should be modified to help school menu planners manage these challenges and prepare nutritious meals that appeal to diverse student tastes."

An Obama spokesman declined to comment to CNN.