USDA Final Rule New School Meal Standards

May 1, 2024 • 5 Minute Read

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On April 25, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its final rule to update meal patterns for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) to align school meal nutrition standards with the goals of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025. When we asked Dr. Betty Crocker, Let’s Eat Healthy champion and school foodservice director, about this announcement, she enthusiastically declared, “USDA heard us! I am thrilled the Final Rule protects children’s nutrition security by ensuring access to nutritious foods they enjoy such as flavored milk. It’s a great example of collaboration for the benefit of our kiddos.”

Dairy Council of California commends the USDA for publishing the final rule which is the next step in continuing the science-based improvement of school meals and other USDA child nutrition programs (CNP), as part of USDA’s commitment to advancing nutrition security. Influenced by voices like Dr. Betty Crocker's and many other child nutrition advocates, this announcement reinforces the critical role of school meals in supporting the health of American schoolchildren both in and out of the classroom and reflects the generational investment in our children’s futures.

Watch a short video by the USDA for a concise overview of the changes to school meals here.

While this rulemaking is effective July 1, 2024, USDA is gradually phasing in required changes over time. Program operators are not required to make any changes to their menus as a result of this rulemaking until school year 2025–26 at the earliest.

Here are some of the most notable highlights from the new school nutrition standards:

Flavored Milk: Schools can continue to offer flavored and unflavored milk, which provide essential nutrients that children need, such as calcium, vitamin D and potassium. There will be a new limit on added sugars in flavored milk served at breakfast and lunch by Fall 2025. Thirty-seven school milk processors – representing more than 90% of the school milk volume nationwide – have already committed to providing nutritious school milk options that meet this limit on added sugars.
Added Sugars Limits: Phased implementation of product-based added sugar limits:
- Yogurt: no more than 12 grams of added sugars per 6 ounces.
- Flavored milk: no more than 10 grams of added sugars per 8 fluid ounces or, 15 grams per 12 fluid ounces if sold as a competitive food at middle and high schools.
- Breakfast cereals: no more than 6 grams of added sugars per dry ounce.
Sodium Reductions: Updated standards provide a gradual reduction in sodium content in school meals over time, with an approximate 15 percent reduction for lunch and 10 percent reduction for breakfast starting July 1, 2027.
Supporting Other Food Preferences: While not a new requirement, starting in Fall 2024 it will be easier for schools to serve protein-rich breakfast foods such as yogurt, tofu, eggs, nuts, and seeds, which can help reduce sugary food options, while also supporting vegetarian diets and other food preferences.
A Focus on Local: School nutrition operators have the option to prioritize locally grown, raised, or caught unprocessed agricultural products in their programs. Additionally, limits on non-domestic food purchases will be introduced beginning fall 2025.

As emphasized by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, “We all share the goal of helping children reach their full potential. Like teachers, classrooms, books, and computers, nutritious school meals are an essential part of the school environment, and when we raise the bar for school meals, it empowers our kids to achieve greater success inside and outside of the classroom.”

Resources

Dairy Council of CA has curated various resources available to continue to educate, inform and advocate for the importance of federal school meal programs, including: