USDA sets new nutrition guidelines for school meals

By Farms.com

The USDA has unveiled new, improved nutrition standards for school meals, with a phased implementation beginning in Fall 2025. These changes are designed to better align with scientific dietary recommendations and enhance the nutritional quality of meals provided to nearly 30 million children daily.

Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized that the updated standards would not only reduce the intake of added sugars and sodium but also maintain essential nutrients in school diets. The introduction of these standards is a key component of the Administration's agenda to end hunger and reduce dietary-related diseases by 2030.

The specifics of the new regulations include setting the first-ever national limits on added sugars in school meals, particularly targeting sugary breakfast items. Flavored milks will also see a reduction in added sugars, with significant participation from milk processors to support this transition.

Sodium reductions will be streamlined to a single target by 2027, simplifying previous proposals and allowing schools and suppliers adequate preparation time. The standards for whole grains will remain unchanged, continuing to encourage a variety of whole and enriched grains.

Additionally, the USDA is making it simpler for schools to support local food economies and offer diverse protein options, including plant-based and culturally diverse foods, starting in 2024. These efforts are supported by grants and initiatives that equip school districts with the resources needed to meet these standards, ensuring that school meals are both nutritious and appealing to students.

This overhaul of school meal standards represents a significant advancement in public health nutrition, aiming to provide healthier meal options to students across the United States while supporting educational and health outcomes.