Biden administration tightens US school nutrition standards | Image:AP
WASHINGTON: New U.S. school lunch standards released Wednesday will limit added sugar for the first time and slightly reduce sodium content, among other adjustments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service said.
President Joe Biden’s administration announced a series of measures Wednesday to make school lunches less sugary and more vegetarian, part of a push to provide better nutrition for millions of students.
“We share the goal of helping children reach their full potential,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, announcing a major initiative to improve the health of America’s children through school meals. announced measures.
“Like teachers, classrooms, books, and computers, nutritious school meals are an important part of the school environment, and by raising standards for school meals, children will be more successful in and out of the classroom. ” he said. .
“With this major milestone in mind, the Biden-Harris Administration will continue to work with schools, districts, states, and industry to build on the extraordinary progress made to strengthen school meals,” Vilsack said.
For the first time, added sugar will be restricted in school meals across the country, with small changes to be made by autumn 2025 and fully implemented by autumn 2027. The decision follows concerns from parents and teachers that some foods have excessive amounts of added sugar, and the new restrictions.
Research shows that these added sugars are most commonly found on typical school breakfast menus. Child care providers also plan to start limiting added sugar, rather than total sugar, in cereals and yogurt by fall 2025.
Schools can continue to offer flavored and unflavored milk that provides essential nutrients that children need, such as calcium, vitamin D, and potassium. However, by autumn 2025, there will be new limits on the amount of added sugar in flavored milk served at breakfast and lunch. Thirty-seven school milk processors, which account for more than 90 percent of the country’s school milk, are already working to supply milk. Nutritious school milk options that meet this limit of added sugars.
Schools will be required to slightly reduce the salt content of their meals by fall 2027, but the current nutritional standards for whole grains will not change.
School lunches will continue to emphasize fruits, vegetables and whole grains, providing children with the right balance of nutrients for a healthy and delicious meal. According to the USDA, school nutrition specialists are local experts in the region and will continue to provide meals that students want to eat, prioritizing cultural and religious food preferences.
“I am excited that the Department of Agriculture is taking action to raise nutritional standards for school meals.As a grandmother, I am committed to ensuring that my grandchildren have the healthy food they need to learn and grow. I’m proud to support this rule because I know it will make a huge difference to the health and well-being of families like mine. “Because I have a disability,” said Mothers Rising member Mary Beth Cochran, a homemaker with disabilities who is raising four grandchildren in Canton, North Carolina.
“As a mother and a member of the industry, I believe it’s important to reduce sugar in school meals. To support schools, we demonstrate how our products meet the latest standards. We have created a sample menu. We have also reduced added sugar by using high quality foods. Our baked goods are made with high quality natural ingredients that ensure they are both healthy and delicious.” said Laura Trujillo Bruno, president of Buena Vista Foods.
In Boston, public schools have already introduced carbohydrate restrictions and reduced salt from menus.
