'Fluff' flies in Massachusetts school lunch debate

BOSTON, June 22 (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. On 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 on 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.'' REUTERS SI ND0944