Hostess’ shutdown leaves schools looking for bread

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Dozens of Mississippi school districts are looking for a new supplier for bread and rolls as the shutdown of Hostess impacts lunchrooms.

The Mississippi Department of Education tells The Clarion-Ledger six out of seven regions of the state are affected by the shutting down of Hostess Brands foods.

Department spokeswoman Patrice Guilfoyle says school districts are working with frozen foods vendors to ensure that whole-grain items are coming in to meet meal requirements.

Guilfoyle says the department offers an optional bread-purchasing program for schools that participate in the statewide dry and frozen purchasing system.

For those schools who participate, she says Hostess is the vendor for six out of seven regions. Those areas were notified on Nov. 16 that Hostess could no longer fulfill their contracts.