(Politico) Jewish and Muslim students throughout the city have been largely going without kosher and halal options for meals since city schoolchildren were barred from attending classes because of the coronavirus — and critics say the city’s recent efforts to address the disparity should have happened weeks ago.
Many low-income religious students who rely on school for meals have had to make do with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and limited vegetarian options that comport with their dietary restrictions. Late last week, the city put out a solicitation for as many as 100,000 kosher and halal meals — as well as a requirement for shelf-stable meals to be at least 5 percent vegetarian — and it is currently receiving responses and bids for kosher and halal meals.
Advocates are asking what took so long.
