Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
New Rule Aims To Get Schools Back On Nutritional Track
AP: School Lunch Rules Updated To Help Ease Pandemic Disruptions
Low-fat chocolate milk instead of only non-fat. Fewer whole-grain offerings. Less severe salt limits. The Biden administration issued transitional standards for school lunches Friday that are meant to ease the path for cafeterias to get back on a more healthful course as they recover from pandemic and supply chain disruptions. Schools have struggled to meet the government’s nutrition benchmarks through the pandemic but have not been punished for falling short. The “bridge” rule announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture extends emergency flexibilities for the next two school years as schools gradually transition back to normal. (Thompson, 2/4)
The Washington Post: School Lunch Menus To Get Shakeup With New USDA Rule
The Biden administration will make schools and child-care providers offer low-fat or nonfat unflavored milks, and limit the fat in sweet flavored milks, among other things. At least 80 percent of the grains served in school lunch and breakfast each week must be considered rich in whole grains, under the new policies. And while the weekly sodium limit for school lunch and breakfast will remain at the current level, there will be a 10 percent decrease required for the 2023-2024 school year. These adjustments would mark a change from the direction that the Trump administration took when it came to nutrition standards at schools. Trump aides had rolled back rules, initially easing policies regarding whole grain, nonfat milk and sodium, citing food waste and nonparticipation as key rationales. (Reiley, 2/4)
Politico: Biden Inches Back Toward Michelle Obama’s School Nutrition Standards
The Biden administration today is issuing a new rule asking schools to soon start meeting nutrition standards that were strengthened at the urging of former first lady Michelle Obama — but were suspended during the pandemic as schools struggled to procure more nutritious options. The stricter nutrition standards — which cut sodium, require more whole grains and mandate more fruits and vegetables — were also partially relaxed during the Trump administration. One of former Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s first moves was to “Make School Meals Great Again” by loosening rules for whole grains, sodium and flavored milks. (Evich, 2/4)
And New York City schools begin 'Vegan Fridays' —
New York Daily News: Vegan Fridays At NYC Schools Gets Off To Uneven Start
A new “vegan Fridays” initiative in city public school cafeterias off to an uneven start, with some schools lacking fully vegan offerings and some kids and parents panning the new plant-based menu. The new initiative was supposed to kick off in schools citywide with vegan veggie tacos and seasoned broccoli, according to the DOE school food menu. In reality, schools served a mix of entrees, some dairy-free and some not, depending on the supplies they had on hand, earning mixed reviews from students and parents. (Moynihan and Elsen-Rooney, 2/4)
Eater NY: New Yorkers Share Photos On Twitter Of NYC’s First ‘Vegan Friday’ Meals
Mayor Eric Adams made headlines on Thursday when he announced that New York City schools would be required to serve completely vegan lunches on Fridays, effective the following day. The mandate is off to a rocky start in the nation’s largest school system. New Yorkers took to Twitter on Friday morning, sharing images of school lunches that left something to be desired: dry black bean tacos, bags of chips, sad-looking stir fries, and other meals that city officials claim to be nutrient-packed. Several users on the social media platform say their children were dished up food that wasn’t actually vegan, like lasagna and bean and cheese burritos. (Fortney and Orlow, 2/4)
In related news —
Insider: Expert: How Parents Can Make A Difference In School Nutrition
When Chris Vangellow's four children returned to in-person learning after being remote for much of the COVID-19 pandemic, they noticed something different about school lunches. Now that lunches were free for everyone — a federal policy during the 2021-22 school year — the kids reported that portion sizes were getting smaller and smaller, and the food was becoming less and less appetizing. Vangellow encouraged his kids, ages 13, 14, 15, and 16, to pack snacks from home to supplement school lunch, especially on days they had sports. But he couldn't let go of what they had said. (Burch, 1/25)
