Does the proposed definition of substantially using agriculture commodities that are produced in the United States meet the intent of the Buy American requirements? Available at: Acorns, chestnuts, and coconuts may not be used because of their low protein and iron content. The proposed updates reflect the most recent Dietary Guidelines, as required by law, and build in plenty of time for planning and implementation to ensure the school meals community and the kids they serve have the best chance for long-term success. However, an updated impact analysis from the transitional standards rule utilizing newer cost data from SY 2014-2015[178] As a result, smaller reductions compared to those from the 2012 rule are proposed over two-year increments. While there is some cost associated with improving the dietary intake of school-aged-children through school meals and other child nutrition programs, the potential savings that could occur in adulthood through reduced medical costs and increased productivity as a result of forming healthy habits starting in childhood could be substantial, especially when considering blood pressure, CVD, obesity, and diabetes. USDA looks to make final call on free meal expansion, school Madeline Becker, USDA FNS Child Nutrition Programs This rulemaking proposes to require school food authorities to include the Buy American provision in documented procurement procedures, solicitations, and contracts for foods and food products procured using informal and formal procurement methods, and in awarded contracts. for more information.). It is unclear exactly how many SFAs this will affect and how many individuals have 10 years or more of experience that could be promoted to director positions. This section provides an overview of input received through public comments, followed by input shared during the listening sessions. For example, schools operating both the school meal programs and the SFSP would need to be familiar with the term protein sources for school meals, as well as the term meat/meat alternate for the SFSP. use the HEI-2010 version, but because the sodium component score did not change in 2015, HEI scores in Tables 15 and 16 could be considered either HEI-2010 or HEI-2015. pancakes, pasta (including macaroni, penne, rotini, and spaghetti), rice, and tortillas. Compliance with and Enforcement of the Buy American Provision in the National School Lunch Program, By contrast, if participation increases due to unrelated trends, then the quantified cost estimates would be as reported here but the unquantified accompanying effects would not be attributable to the proposed rule. Beginning in SY 2025-2026, this rulemaking proposes to implement quantitative limits for leading sources of added sugars in school meals, including grain-based desserts, breakfast cereals, yogurts, and flavored milks. Flavored milks are the top contributor of added sugars in the school meal programs. Exemptions to the total fat requirement. Schools must add any local recipes to their local database as outlined in FNS guidance. SNMCS Volume 4Figures 9.2 and 12.2. USDA Response: This same data is presented in Table A in the `Appendix' section by school year. Comments are requested from the public regarding this proposal on whether or not respondents agree that this approach would ease procurement challenges for child nutrition program operators or if it would encourage smaller-scale producers to submit bids to sell foods to child nutrition programs. are required by law to be based on the preponderance of current scientific and medical knowledge. If Alternative A is finalized with restrictions on flavored milk for grades K-8 or K-5 in NSLP and SBP, should USDA also pursue a similar change in SMP and CACFP? Start Printed Page 8105 the official SGML-based PDF version on govinfo.gov, those relying on it for One industry respondent successfully developed whole grain-rich breakfast entres, ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, and biscuits; this respondent supported stronger whole grain-rich standards. Nutrients. Using 2022 dollars and not adjusting for annual inflation results in costs between $1.2 and $1.4 billion dollars over six school years (over seven fiscal years) or $192 to $238 million annually ($0.03 per meal), see Appendix. No matter the circumstances, USDA and all our partners must continue collaborating to provide our young ones with the healthy meals they count on.. Other protein sources. These values indicate that the proposed reductions could bring student consumption to a level that meets the recommended CDRR values or is very close to meeting them. 2021;144(4):271-282. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.053216. Chan School of Public Health, USDA Actions on Nutrition Security. Consistent with current requirements, this rulemaking would require that unflavored milk be offered at each school meal service. One respondent who identified as a pediatric cardiologist underscored these concerns and suggested limiting sodium would benefit children's health. Only pasteurized, full-strength fruit juice may be used, and may be credited to meet no more than one-half of the fruit component. Fruit juice, vegetable juice, and milk may comprise only one component of the snack. https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2020/february/schoolchildren-consumed-more-whole-grains-following-change-in-school-meal-standards/. Index-2010 (HEI-2010) scores[136] 42 U.S.C. 52. On average, grain-based desserts cost $0.35 per ounce equivalent and non-grain-based desserts cost $0.19 per ounce equivalent, about a $0.22 difference after adjusting for inflation. USDA recognizes that this change is just one part of a larger effort to support the service of traditional foods in school meals. Theres a long road ahead, but the extra support and funding for our operators will help them continue to serve our children well. Print version (124.23 KB) Proposed Updates to the School Nutrition Standards. Then, in March 2019, USDA published Nutr J. https://nesr.usda.gov/2015-dietary-guidelines-advisory-committee-systematic-reviews. https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/sp052022-questions-answers-program-operators. USDA also recognized that FDA expects to issue revised subsequent targets in the next few years to facilitate a gradual, iterative process to reduce sodium intake. by encouraging food reformulation and new product development for Americans. Schools in American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and tribally operated schools, schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education, and schools serving primarily American Indian or Alaska Native children, may serve vegetables such as breadfruit, prairie turnips, plantains, sweet potatoes, and yams to meet the grains component. which details action the Department will take to advance equity, including a focus on increasing Tribal trust. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:190213. According to the School Nutrition Meal Cost Study (SNMCS) ReportVolume 3, the average SFA had a reported cost of $3.81 per NSLP lunch and $2.72 per SBP breakfast Enriched macaroni. 92. According to USDA special tabulations utilizing SNMCS data from SY 2014-2015. [9] For more information about crediting these foods and other products made from cornmeal, corn flour, etc. Nuts and seeds and their butters are allowed as protein sources in accordance with FNS guidance. 39. The proposed changes build on the current school nutrition standards, with updates in a few key areas: A full description of all proposed standards is available for download. Breakfast cereals: Individuals and organizations may choose to use this summary section as an outline for submitting their public comments. Restoration of Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Flexibilities Proposed Rule In the other proposed milk alternative, Alternative B, USDA proposes to maintain the current standard allowing all schools to offer flavored and unflavored milks. 154. Strategies to reduce dietary sodium intake. SNMCS data. Child and Adult Care Food Program Breakfast. 1760). USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support data collection of nutrition label information from major cereal and yogurt manufacturer K-12 and food service catalogs. This formula for scoring the sodium component is the same in the HEI-2010 and HEI-2015 scoring versions. Due to the delay in conducting the next edition of the School Nutrition Meal Cost Study (II) as a result of the pandemic, the most recent data that could be used for cost analysis were from SY 2014-2015. trans Fox MK, Gearan EC, Schwartz C. Advisory Committee Project. $100 million provided for the Healthy Meals Incentive Initiative. Starchy vegetables are consumed at a higher rate in children and adolescents compared to the other vegetable subgroups, so this proposal would encourage consumption of additional types of vegetables at breakfast if substituted in for fruit. In developing these proposed changes, USDA considered several important factors, outlined below. If there is a five percent increase in participation of school meal programs, then the quantified annual cost of this proposed rule would be between $231 and $288 million, or between $1.4 and $1.7 billion over the seven years of implementation (Table 30). Sodium Reduction Targets. Many respondents specifically addressed added sugars, milk, whole grains, and sodium; feedback from these comments is included in the specific sections of the preamble, as applicable. 71. (1) Start Printed Page 8084 For both individually offered grains and combination entrees offered at breakfast and at lunch, the cost of whole grain-rich options per ounce equivalent was less than their non whole grain-rich counterparts. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/02/07/2022-02327/child-nutrition-programs-transitional-standards-for-milk-whole-grains-and-sodium#footnote-29-p6991. Added sugars. [60] https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/111th-congress-2009-2010/costestimate/healthyhungerfreekidsact0.pdf. The authority citation for part 215 continues to read as follows: Authority: USDA is proposing a change in this rulemaking to expand geographic preference options by allowing locally grown, raised, or caught as procurement specifications (a written description of the product, or service that the vendor must meet to be considered responsive and responsible) for unprocessed or minimally processed food items in the child nutrition programs, in order to increase the procurement of local foods and ease procurement challenges for operators interested in sourcing food from local producers. Prepared by 2M Research under Contract No. For example, the school lunch average total HEI score increased by 24 points (57.9 to 81.5) from SY 2009-2010 to SY 2014-2015. Desserts. With diet-related diseases like diabetes and obesity on the rise, childrens health and futures are at stake. 296. [297] Yogurt: This proposed rule would require school food authorities to include the Buy American provision in documented procurement procedures, solicitations, and contracts for foods and food products procured using informal and formal procurement methods, and in awarded contracts. Estimated Number of Respondents: An official website of the United States government. Therefore, we assume that 45% of the $0.06 addition reimbursement represents labor costs, and 10% of this amount, or $0.003 ($0.004 after adjusting for inflation up to 2022) per lunch meal, was the expected cost associated with becoming familiar with the proposed rule and making necessary adjustments. For instance, an ounce equivalent of doughnuts, sweet rolls, or toaster pastry ranges from 55 to 69 grams depending on if the product is frosted or not. [267] Additionally, USDA reminds stakeholders that a variety of whole-grain rich products are available through the USDA Foods program. See Regulatory Impact Analysis from Based on recent food label data about 90 percent of yogurt products and 44 percent of hot and cold cereal products available during SY 2021-2022 met the current CACFP total sugar standards. The sodium targets from 2012 did not account for consumption and the 2019 DRIs had not been published yet. Fluid milk. Available at: USDA intends to develop nutrition standards that are durable and built to last. USDA Issues Pandemic Flexibilities for Schools and Day Care (1) trans Noncommercial and/or non-standardized yogurt products, such as frozen yogurt, drinkable yogurt products, homemade yogurt, yogurt flavored products, yogurt bars, yogurt covered fruits and/or nuts or similar products are not creditable. Grain-based desserts: 10. U.S. Department of Agriculture, The changes will roll out in the 2022-2023 school year. This proposed rule contains multiple standards that would be implemented incrementally over time, rather than implementing broader changes during SY 2024-2025. [44] It supports USDA's efforts to foster healthy eating across all life stages, with a special focus on young children, by proposing to update school meal standards to reflect the latest nutrition science. For instance, reductions in sodium are proposed in ten percent increments, which is more Child Nutrition Programs and Traditional Foods, [50], Research also demonstrates that USDA standards make a difference in children's consumption of whole grain foods. Protein sources. Program managers, directors, and staff hired on or after January 1 of each school year must complete half of their required annual training hours before the end of the school year. Although the transitional standards rule did not address the total fat and saturated fat standards for Smart Snacks, one food industry respondent commented on this topic. This document proposes standards for added sugars, milk, whole grains, and sodium. (ii) Wild caught fish must be harvested within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States or by a United States flagged vessel. Bouchey C, Ard J, Bazzano L, Heymsfield S, Mayer-Davis E, Sabat J, Snetselaar L, Van Horn L, Schneeman B, English LK, Bates M, Callahan E, Butera G, Terry N, Obbagy J. Dietary Patterns and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review. Modifications to Accommodate Disabilities in the School Meal Programs.[43]. A lock ( LockA locked padlock ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Continuing education/training required under this paragraph is in addition to the food safety training required in the first year of employment under paragraph (b)(1)(v) of this section. Summary of required minimum continued education/training standards and flexibilities. This additional analysis provides a high and low estimate of the necessary costs for schools to become equipped to reduce sodium content of meals to the proposed limits. Low-fat (1 percent fat or less) or fat-free (skim) milk must be served. https://www.regulations.gov, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically. The estimated annual cost of limiting elementary schools only to unflavored milk is $42 million, adjusted for inflation to SY 2024-2025. 160. Trends in healthcare expenditures among US adults with hypertension: national estimates, 2003-2014. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support, Child Nutrition Program Operations Study (CN-OPS-II): SY 2015-16 by Jim Murdoch and Charlotte Cabili. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support, Project Officer: Ashley Chaifetz. Section 2: Added Sugars, ), vegetables and juice for flavor (such as olives, roasted pepper, garlic, lemon juice, etc.). Dietary Guidelines Remove the definition of Four ounces (weight) or Nutrient Requirements for Fluid Milk Substitutes. See: U.S. Department of Agriculture. Enriched and whole grains. No specific cost impact is being evaluated for this proposal since USDA does not have any applicable data, but USDA assumes that this element of the proposed rule will be used at SFA discretion as it works into individual school budgets (creating savings when needed). U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (B) the students must select at least doi: 10.17226/12818. School Meals Are More Nutritious After Updated Nutrition Standards. If any provision of this section promulgated through the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Revisions to Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (FNS-2020-0038; RIN 0584-AE88) is held to be invalid or unenforceable by its terms, or as applied to any person or circumstances, it shall be severable from this section and not affect the remainder thereof. legal research should verify their results against an official edition of or selection criteria for unprocessed or minimally processed food items. [35] The analyses in this Regulatory Impact Analysis, assume participation returns to more typical, pre-pandemic levels and projects participation will hold steady each school year during the time period between SY 2024-2025 and SY 2029-2030. USDA recognizes that the costs from SY 2009-2010 are very different from those collected in SY 2014-2015, as the previous analysis indicated that whole grain-rich foods cost more than their non whole grain-rich counterparts, whereas the opposite is true according to the SNMCS data. On February 7, 2023, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced proposed rule changes to its child nutrition program standards. Compliance with and Enforcement of the Buy American Provision in the National School Lunch Program, These HEI scores above are all based on the menu sodium content and not based on actual school meal consumption data. Successful Approaches to Reduce Sodium in School Meals Final Report. Fluid milk, vegetables or fruit, or portions of both, and grains are required components of the breakfast meal. provide four overarching recommendations: Follow a healthy dietary pattern[8] July 15, 2015. Schools let us know that changes to the nutrition standards need to be gradual and predictable to give them time to plan and give childrens taste preferences time to adapt. 290. These estimated annual costs, adjusted for inflation, are shown in Table 9. Please be advised that the substance of the comments and the identity of the individuals or entities submitting the comments will be subject to public disclosure. Hummus would continue to be subject to the saturated fat standard for Smart Snacks. This same report indicated that in households with income below 185 percent of the poverty line, those that received free or reduced-price school lunch in the previous 30 days (in 2021) were less likely to be food insecure compared to those that did not receive free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that school meals are an important source of food for families facing hardships. (ii) 30 minutes (.50 hours). https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/modifications-accommodate-disabilities-school-meal-programs. The additional costs for manufacturers in product reformulation; respondents were particularly concerned about reformulation costs associated with meeting the transitional sodium standards. This separated indigenous children from their families and heritage, and disrupted access to traditional foods, altering indigenous children's relationship to food. Cooked dry beans, peas, or lentils may be counted as either a vegetable or as a protein source but not as both in the same meal. Right now, were asking for your feedback to help us develop final standards that will best support kids health, learning, and growth. Yogurt Yogurt contains sugars found naturally in milk and fruit, making it more difficult to directly compare the current total sugars limit in CACFP to the proposed added sugars limit. Requiring that all grains offered must meet the whole grain-rich requirement, except that one day each school week, schools may offer enriched grains. Available at: [160] USDA Announces New Investments in School Meals to Support Hiring Flexibility Under Professional Standards i.e. The rulemaking proposes to allow menu planning options for American Indian and Alaska Native students by adding tribally operated schools, schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education, and schools serving primarily American Indian or Alaska Native children to the list of schools that may serve vegetables to meet the grains requirement.