Students will see the menu changes in the 2022-23 school year (CCSD Photo)
-Staff, February 5, 2022
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking a multi-step approach to help schools across the nation "build back better" from the pandemic. The plan, announced this month, intends to give students the best chance at a healthy future and provide support to public and non-profit private schools.
The new USDA published rule establishes transitional standards for school years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 in three key areas: milk, whole grains, and sodium.
Milk: Schools and childcare providers serving participants ages six and older may offer flavored low-fat (1%) milk in addition to nonfat flavored milk and nonfat or low-fat unflavored milk.
Whole Grains: At least 80% of the grains served in school lunch and breakfast each week must be whole grain-rich.
Sodium: The weekly sodium limit for school lunch and breakfast will remain at the current level in SY 2022-2023. For school lunch only, there will be a 10% decrease in the limit in SY 2023-2024. This aligns with the U.S Food and Drug Administration’s recently released guidance that establishes voluntary sodium reduction targets for processed, packaged, and prepared foods in the U.S.
“Nutritious school meals give America’s children the foundation for successful, healthy lives,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Vilsack added that research shows that many school children receive their healthiest meals of the day at school.
This fall, in an effort to give students consistent access to nutritious foods that promote good health, the USDA also plans to issue a proposed rule on long-term school nutrition standards based on the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans and stakeholder feedback.
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.
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