On February 3, 2023 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced proposed revisions to school nutrition standards. Expressing concerns regarding U.S. rates of childhood obesity, Sec. Vilsack proposed school nutrition standards that would revise requirements on the use of whole grains, sodium, and sugar in school meals.

According to K-12 Dive, such changes would be made gradually between the fall of 2024 and the fall of 2029. Beginning in fall 2024, schools would be required to offer mostly whole grain products, with the choice of occasional enriched grain products. By fall 2025, they would be expected to reduce weekly sodium limits for breakfast and lunch by 10% and limit high-sugar products like yogurts and cereal. However, some flavored milk options with “reasonable limits” on added sugars would be allowed.

By fall 2027, added sugars would be limited to less than 10% of calories per week for breakfast and lunch, and weekly limits for sodium would decrease by another 10%. Sodium would then be reduced an additional 10% for school lunches alone in fall 2029. For more from K-12 Dive, click here.