Update provided by Sharon Gibson, Food and Nutrition Services Director
Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced plans to scale back school nutrition standards by reducing whole-grain requirements, allowing low-fat 1% chocolate milk, and giving schools additional time to meet sodium-level requirements. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue stated, “USDA is committed to serving meals to kids that are both nutritious and satisfying.” He also said, “If kids are not eating what is being served, they are not benefitting, and food is being wasted.” (The Hill, 12/7/18)
The district’s Food and Nutrition Services Department is committed to the health and well-being of our students; therefore, we will not make any changes to our menus or food offerings as a result of the reduced Federal standards. Our students will continue to get whole grains, non-fat chocolate milk for lunch only, and sodium levels will remain at their current low levels. We believe that making the changes announced by the USDA would be a step backward in our goal to provide high quality, nutritious meals.