The nation’s school meals will get a makeover under new nutrition standards that limit added sugars for the first time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday.
The final rule also trims sodium in kids’ meals, although not by the 30% first proposed in 2023. And it continues to allow flavored milks — such as chocolate milk — with less sugar, rather than adopting an option that would have offered only unflavored milk to the youngest kids.
The aim is to improve nutrition and align with U.S. dietary guidelines in the program that provides breakfasts to more than 15 million students and lunches to nearly 30 million students every day at a cost of about $22.6 billion per year.
“All of this is designed to ensure that students have quality meals and that we meet parents’ expectations,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters.
1 person was arrested after 3 people were injured in a 'major incident' at a Welsh school
Exhibition of Chinese cultural designs held in Denmark
Experts call for more efforts in robotics
13th National Women's Congress Opens in Beijing
Microsoft and Amazon face scrutiny from UK competition watchdog over recent AI deals
Healthgen embraces biotech breakthrough
Discount retailers making mark among price
Former Labour minister Frank Field dies from cancer aged 81: Tributes pour in for 'formidable' ex
Tech company finds profit in coal waste
Jury sides with school system in suit accusing it of ignoring middle
New bright spots shine in pressured trade scene