The USDA has announced the imminent release of transitional nutrition standards for school meals covering the 2023-2024 academic year.  Adjustments will be made in accordance with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The rule will include the following changes: -

• Offering flavored one-percent fat content milk for students in grades K-12
• Eighty-percent of weekly grains to be rich in whole-grains.
• Sodium targets will be established for both school lunch and breakfast mealtimes
• Existing nutrition standards covering fruit and vegetables will remain unchanged from 2012

The School Nutrition Association that motivated the review and change in standards is appreciative of the response by the USDA based on disruption in the supply chain.  The Association has also requested Congress to approve waiver extensions to maintain benefits for children while continuing to serve healthy school meals.

In commenting on proposed changes USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack stated, “These transitional standards are step-one of a longer-term strategy to use the school meal program as a crucial part of improving child health.”  He added, “We have got to find the right balance between standards that provide our kids the best chance at a healthy future based on the latest nutrition science and ensuring those standards are practical, built to last and work for everyone.”