I read with interest the letter to the editor in the March 5 edition of the Bangor Daily News, titled, “Nobody needs chocolate milk,” by Raquel Boehmer. Perhaps the school lunch doesn’t need chocolate milk, but for certain one thing that teachers and school administrators don’t need is more rules and regulations being made as to what school kids are to eat and when and where they are to eat it!

I’m wondering if the general public is aware of the fact that although many schools have replaced soda machines with juice vending machines, the state even regulates when these vending machines can be in operation. So, if someday little Johnny doesn’t happen to like what is being served for school lunch and brings a bag lunch with the hopes of getting some juice from the machine at school — sorry, he can’t.

State regulations say the vending machine cannot be operational until after state-authorized school lunch has been served. So, sorry, little Johnny; you’ll just have to choke down that dry sandwich the best you can with perhaps some water from the drinking fountain. Big Brother is afraid someone else might cut into their monopoly of selling food to school children.

Did you know that the Department of Education also regulates the number of food sales, etc., a school might have to raise money for various projects? Also, teachers, beware if you should ever have the duty of checking off the students in the lunch line. Be sure you are standing in the proper place checking them off or your school could be liable for a hefty fine levied by the powers that be as was a school in Washington County last year.

Despite what the woman from Monhegan Island may fear about certain food industries that might fatten their coffers by selling chocolate milk, I hope most people know who really is getting fat from the school lunch program, because it sure isn’t the kids with or without chocolate milk.

Judith Holmes is a resident of Machias.