Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 11/29/17


USDA announced it will publish a new School Meal Flexibility Rule designed to make “targeted changes” to standards for meals under the agency’s National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.

The document – to be published Thursday – reflects USDA’s commitment to help program operators, school nutrition professionals and other stakeholders develop strategies to ensure school meals are both healthful and practical, USDA chief Sonny Perdue said in a statement. The rule is meant to support Perdue’s May 2017 proclamation expressing a commitment to gives schools the flexibility needed to offer whole grain-rich foods and meet USDA Sodium 1 targets by 2020.

The rule gives school meal plan operators the option to provide flavored, low-fat (1 percent) milk and grants exemptions in 2018-19 for schools having a hard time obtaining whole grain-rich products acceptable to students. It also gives schools and industry more time to reduce sodium levels in school meals, allowing schools that meet the current Target 1 limit to be considered compliant for 2018-19 instead of being required to further restrict sodium levels.

USDA said it welcomes input from program managers on this interim final rule, which is scheduled to become effective July 1, 2018.

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