Food ban fail: how the cookie crumbles.

• Author: Evans, Zenon
• Position: Citings - School food services law banning cookies in Elyria, Ohio - Brief article

The Elyria, Ohio, school district made a darn good cookie--so good that Cleveland magazine declared the pink-frosted confection the city's "Best Cafeteria Cookie" in 2009. But this fall, the federal food police decided to put an end to the award-winning treat.

The Chronicle-Telegram broke the bad news in August that a federal "edict calling for school districts to provide more fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains to students along with fewer calories, fat and cholesterol has resulted in the loss of the pink cookie." The school food services director lamented that "the guidelines for snacks are very strict, and there is no wiggle room."

The bakers were still permitted to...