USDA issues new nutrition standards for school meals

Greetings,

After much anticipation, the USDA released the new nutrition standards for school meals yesterday. Part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, these standards mark “the first major changes in school meals in 15 years”, according to the USDA, by increasing offerings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and limiting amounts of sodium, saturated fat and trans fats among other changes. The new standards will be phased into school meals programs over three years, beginning with the 2012-2013 school year. See the final rule here and the USDA press release here. Click on the links to see articles about the nutrition standards from The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Associated Press.

 

Best,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

Michigan State University

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu