- Dr. Ben Carson, President Donald Trump's nutrition adviser, jokingly named hot dogs alongside fresh produce as a real-life dog interrupted his address on healthy school meals at a Department of Agriculture event.
- The event promoted the administration's new $50 million Harvest to Hallways initiative, which aims to connect schools with local farmers to supply fresh food.
- Carson, a former neurosurgeon and an opponent of Trump during the 2016 presidential election, was sworn in as the national advisor for nutrition, health and housing at the Department of Agriculture last September.
- The Harvest to Hallways initiative provides up to $25 million in grants to help cafeterias purchase locally grown ingredients amid rising grocery costs.
- The push for healthier cafeteria meals comes as fewer children automatically qualify for free or reduced-price lunches because of changes to SNAP rules under the Trump administration.
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