Sharing some food is off the table in Connecticut schools

School officials in a Connecticut town are criticizing new restrictions on lunchroom "share tables," which encourage students to donate uneaten food for any classmates who may be hungry.

Students of all backgrounds took advantage of the extra servings, Superintendent Salvatore Menzo said, but he worries the policy change could deprive needy students, including those who might go without breakfast at home.

The USDA's Food and Nutrition Service in a June 2016 memo endorsed setting up stations where schoolchildren can return food or beverage items and make them available to others.

Connecticut's Department of Education added the new restrictions after consulting with public health officials.

An education department spokeswoman, Abbe Smith, said that it supports the share-tables strategy and that student health and safety is a top priority.