By Scott Malone
BOSTON (Reuters) – When it comes to food, Boston is best
known for baked beans and clam chowder. But this week, state
legislators have engaged in robust debate on Marshmallow Fluff
— a locally made, sugary spread.
State Sen. Jarrett Barrios started the tempest in a lunch
box when he learned that his son’s Cambridge grammar school
cafeteria offered Fluff-and-peanut butter sandwiches daily.
In a nation where child obesity rates have more than
doubled in the past 25 years, Barrios fretted that was not a
healthy option. Monday he proposed a law that would allow
schools to serve the “Fluffernutters” only once a week.
“The key was to start a discussion of what is nutritious,”
said Colin Durrant, Barrios’ director of public policy.
Fluff aficionados defended the sweet spread, which locals
also lather on ice cream and into hot chocolate, and is made by
local company, Durkee-Mower Inc. of Lynn, Massachusetts. A
two-tablespoon serving of fluff, which is made from corn syrup,
sugar and egg whites, has about 60 calories.
State Rep. Kathi Anne Reinstein Tuesday introduced a bill
that would make the Fluffernutter the state sandwich. Barrios
signed on as a co-sponsor of that bill, saying that he liked
Fluff himself but did not want kids eating it every day for
lunch.
Don Durkee, the 80-year-old president of Durkee-Mower, said
Fluff didn’t warrant so much legislative attention.
“It should be up to the consumers and the parents to
determine what is fed to their children,” Durkee said. “There’s
probably more serious things to be concerned about.”
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