23:13
The White House announced
Monday that the First Family's personal chef, Sam
Kass, is leaving and will move to New York.
Kass also heads up the First Lady's "Let's Move!"
initiative, aimed at ending childhood obesity and
promoting healthy eating habits among youth, and
serves as the White House senior policy adviser on
nutrition.
First Lady Michelle Obama praised Kass for his
work on improving nutrition for the nation.
"Sam leaves an extraordinary legacy of progress,
including healthier food options in grocery store
aisles, more nutritious school lunches, and new
efforts that have improved how healthy food is
marketed to our kids," she said.
He's been one of Obama's key liaisons with the
education community as she's sought to
implement improved nutritional standards for
school lunches. But that role has not been without
controversy, as students have boycotted the
lunches and the Student Nutrition Association, an
organization that represents cafeteria workers and
their allies, has argued the standards are too much
of a burden on schools and students.
Kass was, in fact, denied a request to speak at the
SNA's annual convention this summer, after
previously enjoying a warm and active partnership
with the group in helping to publicize and
implement the new standards.
In the White House, however, Kass is a
noncontroversial figure, a friend of the President
who the first White House home-brewed. Indeed,
he's so close with the Obamas that they attended
his wedding with MSNBC host Alex Wagner.
Obama said Kass has left "an indelible mark" on
the White House.
"Over the years, Sam has grown from a close
friend to a critical member of my team, and I am
grateful for his outstanding work and look forward
to seeing all that he will continue to achieve in the
years ahead," the president said in a statement.
The White House said a successor will be named
next year.
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