New USDA Rules Require Healthier Snack Options in Schools

WASHINGTONUnder new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrition standards, "Smart Snacks in School" will require schools to offer U.S. students healthier options during the school day. "Smart Snacks in School" standards reflect USDA's consideration and response to the nearly 250,000 comments received on the proposal earlier this year.

"Smart Snacks in School" balances science-based nutrition guidelines with practical and flexible solutions to promote healthier eating on campus, drawing on recommendations from the Institute of Medicine  (IOM) and existing voluntary standards already implemented by thousands of schools around the country, as well as healthy food and beverage offerings available in the marketplace.

These new standards follow USDA's rule "Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs," requiring schools to increase the availability of fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods, and the "Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010," establishing nutrition standards for all foods sold in school, beyond the federally-supported meals programs.

"Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our children," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Parents and schools work hard to give our youngsters the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong, and providing healthy options throughout school cafeterias, vending machines and snack bars will support their great efforts."

Highlights of the "Smart Snacks in School" nutrition standards include:

The interim final rule announced today is an important component of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative that focuses on providing children with healthier food and greater opportunities for physical activity, providing better information to families about health and nutrition, and improving access in local communities to healthy, affordable food.

Jessica Donze Black, director of the "Kids' Safe and Healthful Foods Project," said USDA's new standards for snacks in schools make up an important step for improving kids' health.  

"Millions of students currently have widespread access to snacks and beverages that are high in sugar, fat and salt, but limited access to nutritious options such as fruits and vegetables in school stores, snack bars, and vending machines," she said. "With many students consuming up to half of their daily calories at school, these new standards represent the kind of positive change we need to help reduce obesity rates among children and teens."

She added that the next part of the process is implementing these standardsallowing states and localities to build on the guidelines and customize which items are served in their schools.

Commenting on the new guidelines, Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy for the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), said children will now be protected from sugary drinks and unhealthy foods that tempt them during the school day, and parents will no longer have to worry about kids using their lunch money to purchase unhealthy snacks.

Wootan added that this is the first update since the 1970s to nutrition standards for foods sold outside of school meal programs, and the updated standards will better address obesity and dietary problems, such as consumption of saturated and trans fats, salt and sugars.

The United Fresh Produce Association also welcomes the new school snack standards and applauds USDA for helping create healthier school environments.

Increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables as snacks in schools will go a long way toward creating a healthy school food environment and improving nutrition for 32 million school children," said Lorelei DiSogra, Uniteds vice president of nutrition and health."In addition, this will drive opportunities for increased produce sales to schools, especially for fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables in convenient single servings."