Processed foods should be banned from school meals due to growing health problems among children, rising academic deficiencies and rising costs of production to produce processed foods. There are people who would oppose this idea due to population growth and increasing demand for food. However, this growing demand for food is forcing the food industry and other government entities to solve current problems of hunger and lack of resources by hiring processing factories and private companies to produce processed foods. Most school-age children consume processed foods daily. The purpose of this study is to examine what are processed foods? What are the associated problems? Also, to determine whether processed foods affect students' health and academic performance. Additionally, what is the position of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the food industry in distributing processed foods in schools? Additionally, to determine the outcome of this study, students' behavior and health were analyzed along with government agencies to determine whether processed foods should be banned from schools or simply monitored closely. Discussion of Key TermsWhat are processed foods? These are foods “composed of synthetic chemical additives, such as colourants, preservatives, sugar substitutes and trans fats” (Fitzgerald, 2006, p.72). Fitzgerald reported that in the 1970s most factory-farmed meat and dairy products had been treated with growth hormones, antibiotics, and a variety of pesticides” (p. 72). Additionally, frozen, packaged, and canned foods are considered processed foods. A brief explanation of chemical additives in processed foods.1. Pre......middle of paper......with over twenty-five years of experience in the book publishing sector. He is an expert in general interest nonfiction publications, specializing in topics ranging from personal and business finance to politics, current events, history, autobiography, self-help, and personal development. Before founding his company, Weber was CEO of Times Business Publishing at Random House (1994-1997). This book is a life changing book. It was inspiring, informative and gave you insight into the things we don't know about the food we eat. The documentary was graphic and detailed and informed the process from the farm or fields, to the producers, to the labeling and packaging companies. He informed me about school lunches, how some school meals are prepared, the politics behind it. This book is also a collector's item.