The United States Congress passed the National School Lunch Act in 1946 after an investigation found that the poor health of men rejected for the World War II draft was associated with poor nutrition in their childhood.[15]

By the end of its first year, the National School Lunch Program had helped 7.1 million children.[16] However, from the start, the program linked children's nutrition to the priorities of agricultural and food interests, and to the agenda of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).[12] In these early years, the program provided substantial welfare to commercial farmers as an outlet for surplus commodities, but provided few free meals to poor children and fed a relatively small number of schoolchildren.

Another government program that had good intentions but was hijacked and now used as a power play for votes.

I remember the "free lunch" kids ( 60s and 70s) worked off their debt by washing cafeteria trays .

The program has really gotten out of hand (IMO) with providing free meals during the times that school is not in session .