the material on FederalRegister.gov is accurately displayed, consistent with Project Officer: Holly Figueroa. Available at This final rule, which will establish transitional standards for milk, whole grains, and sodium, is the first stage. Lactose-free and reduced-lactose milk are also supported by the As noted in the preamble, standards in this rule will be effective only during the interim period before the new standards are promulgated. After careful consideration of the proposed rule and public comments, USDA believes that it is prudent to provide transitional standards in the near-term while further revisions to the meal pattern are considered and established through a new notice-and-comment rulemaking. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Chap. Allowing lactose-free milk is consistent with the The costs to schools are due to increased costs to procure entirely whole grain-rich offerings as well as increases in both food and labor costs to support scratch cooking to immediately comply with the Sodium Final Target. School size and urbanicity were also associated with SFAs' abilities to procure lower sodium foods and to utilize effective menu planning strategies. The 2012 final meal standards rule Regulatory Impact Analysis estimated that whole grain-rich items cost 34 percent more than enriched grain items. Regarding the milk, grains, and sodium requirements, the regulations implemented in 2012: Required schools participating in the NSLP and SBP to reduce the sodium content of meals offered on average over the school week by meeting progressively lower sodium targets over a 10-year period (Target 1, Target 2, and the Final Target).[2]. Longitudinal Trends in Body Mass Index Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Persons Aged 2-19 YearsUnited States, 2018-2020. In SY 2014-2015, one quarter (27 percent) of weekly lunch menus met the new requirement, which was first implemented in SY 2014-2015. The Opponents argued that the proposed changes are not needed because most schools are in compliance with the meal pattern requirements, and that the changes could restrain schools' progress in increasing whole grain consumption and reducing sodium intake. In 2018, USDA published a final rule to revise the requirements for milk, whole grains, and sodium. Food Surveys Research Group. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support, Start Printed Page 7011, Table 1Stream of Quantifiable Costs to Schools. This recognizes the importance of whole grains in a nutritious diet while also acknowledging the near-term challenges of offering all whole grain-rich items. This final rule establishes transitional requirements for milk whole grains, and sodium to respond to the needs of schools as they recover from the challenges of COVID-19, while also taking measured steps towards improving nutritional quality of meals offered. In April 2020, due to a court decision vacating the 2018 rule, the meal pattern requirements for milk, whole grains, and sodium immediately reverted to the 2012 regulations. The 117. The U.S. 1/2 Mainly in response to this congressional direction, USDA issued several policy memoranda addressing the affected nutritional requirements for each specified time period. and services, go to 2019. 119. Note: In SY 2014-2015, the most recent school year that USDA data is available, all grains were supposed to be whole grain-rich. December 2020. 70. 112. National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs. USDA's Team Nutrition and the Institute of Child Nutrition have developed a range of resources and tools for reducing sodium; USDA will continue to provide schools with technical assistance, training resources, recipes, and mentoring to help them offer healthy, lower sodium meals. This may financially impact the manufacturers of these products if they are not able to successfully reduce the sodium levels of products sold to schools. As noted in the preamble, when examining the daily sodium allocation attributed to each meal, USDA determined that sodium reductions are most needed at lunch. For example, the local school wellness policy provides students, parents and guardians, and interested community members the opportunity to influence the school nutrition environment at large ( USDA received 449 unique submissions, including 101 unique submissions that provided substantive comments on issues specific to the rule, including the milk, whole grain, and sodium standards. Strategies to Reduce Sodium Intake in the United States. Respondents also voiced concerns about USDA not engaging with medical stakeholders to fully understand the health impacts of changing the 2012 standards for milk, whole grains, and sodium. This final rule maintains Sodium Target 1 for NSLP and SBP through SY 2022-2023, retains Sodium Target 1 for SBP in SY 2023-2024, and institutes a modified Sodium Interim Target 1A for NSLP beginning in SY 2023-2024. School Nutrition Association. Nutrition Guidelines for Kids of Every Age - Cleveland Clinic Health Schools served an important source of food assistance during the pandemic. 3. Many operators will need to reacquaint themselves with the 2012 standards after several years of Congressional, regulatory, and administrative interventions, followed by two years of meal pattern flexibilities provided in response to the public health emergency. Availability of Lower-Sodium School Lunches and the Association with Selection and Consumption among Elementary and Middle School Students, In the absence of this rule, schools would be required to implement the Sodium Final Target for both NSLP and SBP in SY 2022-2023. Learn about Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) reimbursement for healthy meals and snacks in child care centers, family child care homes, after school programs, emergency shelters, and adult day care programs. Table 12Estimated 5-Year Costs and Reduction. Impacts to the market will be similar in magnitude as purchasing patterns shift to encompass more whole grain-rich items and ingredients for scratch cooking. The availability of whole grain-rich products through USDA Foods and the commercial market has increased significantly since the implementation of the 2012 meal standards. Head Start. There are no additional Federal revenues provided in this rule and schools will need to make menu modifications within current resources. They stated the proposed changes would lead to increased meal consumption and better health outcomes for children. recommend that intake of beverages high in added sugars be limited, and that added sugars consist of no more than 10 percent of total calories per day for children aged 2 years and older. One advocacy group suggested that without this incentive, fewer companies would choose to produce whole grain-rich products, meaning that whole grain-rich products would be less widely available and more expensive for schools that wish to serve them. Project Officer: Holly Figueroa. 10. recent nutrition science, and the needs of children who may experience food and nutrition insecurity. That State agency also affirmed the proposed standard would allow SFAs to serve grain products that children would enjoy, while still exposing children to more whole grain-rich products. 46. HHS. Start Printed Page 6996 Some individual schools and school districts have opted to remove all flavored milk from school meal menus via local wellness policies to reduce students' added sugars consumption. has no substantive legal effect. This means that it costs $0.015 more on average for an ounce of whole grain-rich grains compared to an ounce of enriched grains. https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/resource-files/SNMCS-Volume2.pdf. [29] Given the time it takes to prepare meals and higher food costs due to inflation and not being able to purchase foods in bulk, it is likely that the costs to the households would be higher than just the Federal reimbursement levels. L. 115-56), enacted September 8, 2017, extended the flexibilities provided by Section 747 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 through December 8, 2017. As noted, in SY 2014-2015, only 27 percent of NSLP menus were offering 100 percent of grains as whole grain-rich. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study Final Report Volume 2: Nutritional Characteristics of School Meals, by Elizabeth Gearan et.al. At or below 130 percent of the Federal poverty line can receive a free meal or snack. To assess the potential number of schools that would drop out of the school meal programs if the 2012 standards immediately went into effect next school year, smaller schools with low levels of free and reduced-price-certified children (less than 25 percent) are targeted in estimating this unintentional impact. Reducing sodium intakes above the CDRR is expected to reduce the risk of chronic disease. 3d 546 (D. Md. This appendix will not appear in the Code of Regulations. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2020. Meal Pattern Guidance - National CACFP Sponsors Association Supporting schools' ability to plan ahead is especially important at a time when schools are still facing pandemic-related concerns, such as supply chain disruptions, staff shortages, and financial losses. USDA fully expects to have new standards in place for SY 2024-2025 and beyond. (3) (OMB Control Number 0584-0596, expiration date 07/31/2017.). 1/5 Available at: Prepared by 2M Research under Contract No. This final rule, which will establish standards for milk, whole grains, and sodium, is the first stage. The need for more labor-intensive food preparation, including scratch cooking, would likely continue until lower sodium products are more readily available in the school food market, which will take time. This Available at: https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/resource-files/CNOPS-II-SY2016-17.pdf. In FY 2020, nearly 600 thousand children participated in CACFP through day care homes and about 3.6 million through child care centers. The new rulemaking will advance permanent standards that further demonstrate USDA's commitment to nutritious school meals and that are consistent with the goals of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support, Child Nutrition Program Operations Study (CN-OPS-II): SY 2016-17. Available at: Alexandria, VA: April 2019. 02/04/2022 at 8:45 am. As noted earlier, smaller (less than 500 enrolled students) and rural schools had significantly higher sodium levels and face additional challenges due to insufficient resources and lack of product availability. [36] Project Officer: John Endahl. Medical Nutrition Therapy Works for Seniors. School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study, Final Report Volume 2: Nutritional Characteristics of School Meals (77 FR 4088, January 26, 2012). Dietary Guidelines, Until the ACFR grants it official status, the XML www.fns.usda.gov/research-and-analysis. 52. The proposed rule also noted that, according to a study conducted in SY 2014-2015, the most recent USDA data available, 70 percent of weekly school menus offered at least 80 percent of the grain items as whole grain-rich. Available at: A number of respondents also suggested that USDA allow whole milk for health reasons. Nutrition Education - USDA Food and Nutrition Service 26. In addition, after considering comments, USDA agrees that increasing the whole grain-rich standard beyond what was proposed is achievable and appropriate and is an important step in advancing nutrition security. This transitioned schools back to the healthier school meals that are traditionally offered during the school year. Fayet-Moore F. (2016). are not part of the published document itself. The additional 2 hours is for preparing breakfasts and lunches. as well as the importance of supporting schools in meeting stronger standards. In 220.8, revise the table in paragraph (c) introductory text and revise paragraphs (c)(2)(iv)(B), (d), and (f)(3) to read as follows: Table 1 to Paragraph Milk may be unflavored or flavored. Children Children Teach kids about healthy eating with games, coloring books, and MyPlate materials. Nutrition Reviews; [102] Children 6 years old and older. Project Officer: John Endahl. Schools must offer a minimum quantity of grains daily and weekly for both lunch and breakfast; these requirements vary for the three age/grade groups. The Uncertainties section provides a sensitivity analysis of other labor hour options. Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public Law 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the effects of their regulatory actions on State, local and tribal governments, and the private sector. The impacts of these shifts are quantified for this analysis to demonstrate the potential food and labor costs to schools as well as markets due to changes in purchasing patterns. Proponents argued that the proposed rule would provide more menu planning options for schools, enhancing their ability to offer healthy and appealing meals. Project Officer: John Endahl. Federal reimbursements are estimated to decrease by an estimated $180 million the first year (or about 1 percent of total NSLP and SBP meal reimbursements) due to schools dropping out of the NSLP and SBP and children losing access to school meal benefits. reflecting SY 2009-2010. Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines This expansion represents a major milestone in the history of SNAP and continues to . Start Printed Page 6988 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support, School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study, Final Report Volume 2: Nutritional Characteristics of School Meals by Elizabeth Gearan, Mary Kay Fox, Katherine Niland, Dallas Dotter, Liana Washburn, Patricia Connor, Lauren Olsho, and Tara Wommak. (B) ) for each additional day. Dietary Guidelines. 18. Available at: The milk purchases will shift away from flavored low-fat to flavored fat-free varieties, which will offset total costs since flavored low-fat varieties are slightly more expensive than flavored fat-free varieties. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2022-02327 Filed 2-4-22; 8:45 am]. More information and documentation can be found in our Start Printed Page 7014 15. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study Final Report Volume 2: Nutritional Characteristics of School Meals, by Elizabeth Gearan et.al. The new rulemaking will incorporate meaningful stakeholder input, and will meet the nutritional needs of America's schoolchildren. They cited a 2019 report warning that exceeding recommended sodium levels could increase chronic disease risk within a healthy population. According to an unpublished USDA study, as of SY 2017-2018, 28 percent of SFAs requested an exemption for the whole grain-rich requirement in at least one school year. (3) Tier 1 rates provide higher levels of reimbursement to day care homes in low-income areas or those in which the provider's household income is at or below 185 percent of the Federal poverty line. For school breakfast, the average total HEI score increased by 21 points (49.6 to 71.3) over the same time period. School Nutrition Association. These improvements were made with on average schools offering 70 percent of grain offerings as whole grain-rich. These transitional standards will balance the needs of schools as they recover from the challenges noted above, with measured steps towards improving nutritional quality. They argued that students eventually become accustomed to whole grain foods and foods with less sodium. www.fns.usda.gov/research-and-analysis. 9. Many opponents noted that eating more whole grains is associated with reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, and diabetes, and provides more nutrients and fiber. This State agency also emphasized the importance of ensuring USDA standards expand access to and consumption of whole grain-rich foods. A 2021 survey of school nutrition directors found that 49 percent of respondents considered product or ingredient availability to be a significant challenge in meeting the whole grain-rich requirement. These findings suggest that the 2012 meal standards produced significant, specific, and equitable changes in dietary quality of school foods. Project Officer: John Endahl. As noted earlier, the sodium timeline from the 2012 standards was never fully implemented and schools have only been required to reach Sodium Target 1. Fluid milk must be served as a beverage or on cereal, or a combination of both. legal research should verify their results against an official edition of Project Officer: John Endahl. 4. Mail: Rather, this rule implements transitional sodium standards until USDA develops long-term standards that will further advance nutrition security. 801 The impacts estimated below are based on a 30 percent and 5 percent price increase for whole grain-rich products compared to enriched grain products. For more information about how to know if your baby is ready to starting eating foods, what first foods to offer, and what to expect, watch these videos from 1,000 Days. CSPI, USDA intends the new rulemaking to be completed in time for SY2024-2025, but in the unlikely event of a delay, the standards in this final rule would remain in effect until such new rulemaking is completed. USDA issued a series of nationwide waivers to allow non-congregate meal service, flexible meal times, parent or guardian meal pick-up, and other flexibilities. Retained Sodium Target 1 in the NSLP and SBP. The requirement of the Sodium Final Target going into effect immediately in SY 2022-2023 absent this rule will require schools to move straight to cooking more recipes from scratch. [59] Schools must offer students a variety (at least two different options) of fluid milk. Institute of Medicine 2010. Lastly, this final rule will modify the proposed sodium standards and establish Sodium Target 1 as the sodium limit for school lunch and breakfast in SY 2022-2023 as proposed, but implement a Sodium Interim Target 1A effective for school lunch beginning in SY 2023-2024. ounce = 50%, 3/4 Beyler, Nick, Jim Murdoch, and Charlotte Cabili. There are also some costs associated with schools that still need to move to Target 1 for NSLP and SBP and Target 1A for NSLP in SY 2023-2024 through purchasing shifts to lower sodium products and increases in scratch cooking. As noted by the court in Available at: If your child is eating infant cereals, it is important to offer a variety of fortifiedalert iconinfant cereals such as oat, barley, and multi-grain instead of only rice cereal. Food hardship rates were higher for Black and Hispanic adults, with 1 and 5 Black adults, and 1 in 6 Hispanic adults, reporting that they or their families have sometimes or often not had enough to eat in the last 7 days. GirlsHealth.gov. In 2012, the USDA updated the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) meal requirements, as required by the National School Lunch Act in Section 4(b)(3)(A), 42 U.S.C. [8] on NARA's archives.gov. This uses the information that 70 percent of weekly menus at schools were already offering at least 80 percent of grain items as whole grain-rich in SY 2014-2015. Beyler, Nick, Jim Murdoch, and Charlotte Cabili. Taste testing was the most used approach for gaining student acceptance of lower sodium items. One respondent noted the benefits of whole grains but suggested an in between approach where USDA require half of grains to be whole grain, and one quarter to be enriched grains. 7. The following may be used to meet no more than 50% of the requirement: Peanuts, soy nuts, tree nuts, or seeds, as listed in program guidance, or an equivalent quantity of any combination of the above meat/meat alternates (1 ounce of nuts/seeds = 1 ounce of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish), 1/2 potentially increase costs to schools by $187 million annually or about $0.03 per meal. 9, 11, 14, 16, and 17, Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. USDA invites the public to comment on the content of this final rule, as well as provide comments to inform the future rulemaking. Alexandria, VA: April 2019. L. 115-31), USDA issued policy guidance providing milk, whole grains, and sodium flexibilities for SY 2017-2018. Several opponents were concerned that the proposed changes are not consistent with current nutrition science and may exacerbate the already high rates of nutrition-related chronic disease in the United States. Some opponents stated that the proposed change is inconsistent with the Compared to the nutrition requirements that were in effect prior to COVID-19, this transitional rule provides meaningful, achievable improvements in the whole grain-rich standard, while continuing to be responsive to the current needs of schools. Child and Adult Care Food Program Lunch and Supper, Table 4 to Paragraph Dietary Guidelines Start Printed Page 6992 This suggests that schools in general have the structure to conduct some scratch cooking, but that reductions in sodium may result in more labor-intensive food preparations and/or additional infrastructure needs. The revised standards in this final rule are intended to be transitional, and apply only to the milk, whole grains, and sodium requirements. 2 [11] The base analyses also assume that after two and one-half years of serving meals through COVID-19 waivers, school meal participation will normalize to be consistent with service levels in FY 2019. and the 2009 National Academy of Medicine report, which informed the sodium targets in the 2012 rule. In addition, in the near-term, schools are facing difficulties in procuring food and supplies due to manufacturer changes, canceled vendor or distributor contracts, product unavailability, unexpected and lower quality product substitutions, increased product pricing, and supply chain disruptions; it is not clear how long it will take to fully recover from these disruptions.

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