The whole article is confusing. It doesn't say who is paying for the food. Maybe the parents are. Maybe (probably) it's a free or a reduced-cost program.
And there is no clear reason given as to why the students aren't being allowed second helpings. The article just says left-over food has to be discarded.
In Ga at least its the taxpayers
The Community Eligibility Provision is a 4four-year reimbursement option for eligible, high poverty, local education agencies and schools. Under this provision, a local educational agency may participate for all schools in the local educational agency or only for some schools. Participating local educational agencies must offer free breakfast and lunches for four successive years to all children attending participating schools and receive meal reimbursement based on claiming percentages.And all you need to do to enroll is say you can't afford lunch for your chile. Free in this instance means the tacxpayers are paying for it. I believe most states have similar programs as established under federal edjumacation guidelines.