|
 The U.S. Department of Agriculture had initially loosened the
rules in late 2012, suspending daily and weekly maximum amounts for
grains and meat or meal alternatives. That allowed school districts
to service larger portions without penalty.
"Earlier this school year, USDA made a commitment to school
nutrition professionals that we would make the meat and grain
flexibility permanent and provide needed stability for long-term
planning. We have delivered on that promise," Kevin Concannon, USDA
undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services, said in a
statement.
The announcement was welcomed by North Dakota Republican Senator
John Hoeven, who had introduced a bill with Arkansas Democratic
Senator Mark Pryor to make the changes permanent.
"Today, the USDA made the permanent changes we have been seeking to
the School Lunch Program," Hoeven said in a statement. "A
one-size-fits-all approach to school lunch left students hungry and
school districts frustrated with the additional expense, paperwork
and nutritional research necessary to meet federal requirements.
These are exactly the changes included in our Sensible School Lunch
Act."
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The rules had initially been adopted in 2012 as part of a law
designed to improve school breakfasts and lunches. The modifications
were aimed at limiting fat and salt, reducing portion sizes and
increasing fruit and vegetable servings. Some 31 million children in
the United States receive free or low-cost school lunches and more
than 10 million get free or discounted breakfasts.
Schools are an important focus because they provide meals to many
low-income students, considered to be often the most at risk for
being overweight or obese.
(Reporting by Peter Cooney and Ros Krasny;
editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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