In a Federal Register notice today, the USDA announced it will extend its “three flexibilities” for school menus — salt, whole grains, and flavored milk — into the 2018/19 school year. It will also invite comment on the “long-term availability of the flexibilities,” which Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue introduced at an elementary school on his sixth day in office; they sidetrack goals of a 2010 child nutrition law.
The Obama-era child nutrition package calls for schools to serve more fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, and whole grains in their meals while cutting back on salt, fat, and sugar. Lawmakers repeatedly delayed the introduction of more stringent salt and whole grain rules. The USDA said its interim final rule reflects congressional interest in 2015 and 2016 in granting flexibility on sodium, whole grains, and milk. Neither the House nor the Senate voted on a child nutrition bill, and there has been no action this year.
“Through this interim final rule, USDA is responding to program operators’ need for more flexibility to accommodate menu planning and procurement challenges, local operational differences, and community preference,” says the Federal Register notice. Some school districts say it is difficult to obtain whole grain-rich foods or lower-salt foods that fit into local dietary practices. The provision for 1 percent flavored milk means that chocolate milk can be sold in cafeterias.
“It doesn’t do any good to serve nutritious meals if they wind up in the trash can,” said Perdue, a fan of chocolate milk. “These flexibilities give schools the local control they need to provide nutritious meals that schoolchildren find appetizing.”
The School Nutrition Association, which represents food directors, applauded the USDA interim rule and said schools need still more flexibility on the whole grain and salt standards. The association said it would assemble a working group “to develop detailed recommendations to improve a final rule.”
An alliance of big-city schools said last May that its members would not relax school food standards despite the USDA offer of flexibility.
Public comments will be accepted for 60 days. The USDA said it aims to publish a final rule in fall 2018, to take effect in the 2019/20 school year.
To read the USDA interim final rule, click here.