EGG-NEWS has consistently campaigned for either subsidized or preferably free universal school meals.  A number of states have introduced either breakfasts or lunches or both irrespective of family finances.  Any program to facilitate school feeding is beneficial to the agricultural sector and to children and their families.

A recent investigation in Montana disclosed that an exorbitant fee was charged by the MySchoolBucks website to process bi-weekly payments by parents.  The cost of a luncheon in the state was $3.25 including milk but the fee imposed was $3.25 for 10 meals.  MySchoolBucks is a subsidiary of Global Payments Inc., a company that has drawn criticism from consumer organizations and the federal government. MySchoolBucks grosses more than $100 million a year for processing school lunch payments according to the Federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  In some cases, families may pay 60 cents in fees for every $1 they spend on lunch payments.

It is anticipated that a class action lawsuit will soon be filed that will present evidence of extortionary fees although with many iniquities the status quo is supported by an extensive lobbying campaign.  Shame on legislators who accepting money from Global Payments and other enterprises that impose extra expense on financially stressed families.