New school meal standards in the United States recently announced will limit the amount of added sugars for the first time and slightly reduce sodium levels, among other adjustments, said the Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA.
The final rule will be implemented in phases over the next few years.
Elementary and secondary schools serve breakfast and lunch to nearly 30 million children every school day. These meals are the primary source of nutrition for more than half of these children, according to the USDA.
Although school meals are funded by local and federal funds, the standards for what is served are set by the USDA, in accordance with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The announced changes are the first large-scale reform of school meal standards since President Barack Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The Biden administration has also established a national strategy to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030.
The current dietary guidelines recommend limiting added sugars to less than 10% of daily caloric intake, but data from the 2014-15 school year revealed that the average school lunch had 11% added sugars and breakfast had 17% added sugars. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, certain products – including breakfast cereals, yogurt, and flavored milk – will have specific limits on added sugars. By the 2027-28 school year, weekly meal calories will be limited to 10% added sugars.
Regarding sodium, the final rule requires a 15% cut in sodium in lunches and a 10% cut in sodium in breakfasts by the 2027-28 school year. Given the current sodium levels in the broader food supply, this adjustment considers the “time needed for product reformulation and for adjusting students’ taste preferences,” according to the USDA rule.
“We all share the goal of helping children reach their full potential,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a press release. “Just like teachers, classrooms, books, and computers, nutritious school meals are an essential part of the school environment, and when we raise the bar on school meals, it empowers our children to achieve greater success both inside and outside the classroom.”
Source: CNN