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USDA Publishes Final Rule on School Nutrition Standards

 04/29/2024

The newly issued School Nutrition Standards is being subject to extensive review and debate, The standards will reflect the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  Major changes include:-

 

  • An upper limit will be imposed for addition of sugar to school meals commencing during the 2025-2026 school year. Added sugar will be restricted to grain-based desserts, breakfast cereals and flavored milk.  Effective 2027 less than ten percent of calories per meal will be the upper limit for addition of sugar.

 

  • Sodium content will remain unchanged for three consecutive school years. In mid-2027 sodium will have to be reduced by 15 percent in lunches and by 10 percent in breakfast.

 

  • Both fat-free and low-fat milk will continue to be served as either flavored or unflavored.

 

  • Eighty percent of grains offered will be in whole-grain form.

 

Administrators of school nutrition programs are encouraged to source products locally with some restrictions on imported products from 2025 onwards.

 

It is anticipated that the AEB Egg Nutrition Center will review the standards and continually promote inclusion of eggs in school meals based on cost in relation to nutrient values.