Dive Summary:

• Following crackdowns on candy machines, sugary sodas, bake sales and French fries, butter is the latest food item to fall under the New York City Education Department's scrutiny in its push to fight childhood obesity.
• Butter was banned from use in NYC school cafeterias both as an ingredient and a spread as far back as 2008, but an aggressive crackdown on the banned item is now taking place, with officials at 25 schools receiving an e-mail last week reading, "Please explain why your managers are ordering BUTTER!!!"
• Schools are instructed to use low-fat salad oil in place of butter and to serve only peanut butter, jelly and cream cheese with bread, though one kitchen manager reportedly even faced the threat of termination for further use of butter despite a spokeswoman denying that a butter ban exists at all.

From the article:

... “We understand the need for healthy meals, but we do not appreciate the administration bullying our members without giving them instructions on how to prepare meals,” said Greg Floyd, president of Local 237 Teamsters, which represents the kitchen managers. “Our members are already working under stress and they don’t need unnecessary harassment.”

Department officials say butter is one of several ingredients they’ve stripped out of meals in recent years to make them healthier. Also off the menu: whole milk and white bread. ...