News Item
Biden-Harris Administration Announces New School Meal Standards to Strengthen Child Nutrition
Secretary Tom Vilsack announced major steps to promote the health of America’s children through school meals. Nutrition standards for school meals will be gradually updated to include less sugar and flexibility with menu planning between Fall 2025 and Fall 2027. The Department arrived at these changes after listening closely to public feedback and considering the latest science-based recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
04/24/2024
Subscriber Updates
Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule
FNS published a final rule on program integrity to ensure that child nutrition programs are properly operated and managed to protect federal funds and taxpayer dollars.
08/23/2023
Blog
My Groceries to Go
In May 2022, FNS Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator joined Maryland Department of Aging Deputy Secretary at Sandtown Winchester Senior Center in West Baltimore.
09/15/2022
News Item
USDA Tackles Food Insecurity, Expands Program Access
FNS today reflected on its efforts over the past year to ensure households across the country have access to a nutritious diet. Throughout the first year of the Biden-Harris Administration, FNS bolstered its nutrition assistance programs through a wide range of administrative actions and with the unprecedented $12 billion investment in food assistance provided by the American Rescue Plan Act.
01/20/2022
Subscriber Updates
USDA Publishes Proposed Rule Maintaining School Meal Flexibilities
In line with USDA’s unwavering promise to serve America’s children well through school meal programs, the department today announced it will publish a proposed rule maintaining flexibility for schools to serve tasty meals their kids will be eager to eat. These proposed changes respond directly to the needs of nutrition professionals who are the experts on-the-ground, hearing from our children every day.
11/24/2020
News Item
USDA Gives Out $12.1 Million in Largest-Ever Farm to School Grant Awards
USDA awarded $12.1 million in Farm to School Grants – the most awarded since the grant program’s inception ‒ to 159 grantees – the most projects funded to date. These awards will help bring fresh, local foods into schools and foster economic opportunity for America’s farmers over the next school year.
06/29/2020
Blog
Louisiana Tour Highlights Making a Difference One Meal and One Life at a Time
During a recent visit to Louisiana, I had the opportunity to see several FNS programs in action. I gained greater insight on the different ways FNS is helping Americans find a path to self-sufficiency, while providing access to food through FNS’ nutrition programs to people who need it most.
06/10/2019
News Item
Responding to the Needs of Local Schools, USDA Publishes School Meals Final Rule
Secretary Sonny Perdue today empowered local schools with additional options to serve healthy and appealing meals. A final rule on school meal flexibilities, to be published later this month in the Federal Register, increases local flexibility in implementing school nutrition standards for milk, whole grains, and sodium. Secretary Perdue said the final rule will deliver on USDA's promise, made in a May 2017 proclamation, to develop forward-thinking strategies that ensure school nutrition standards are both healthful and practical.
12/06/2018
News Item
USDA Announces More Local Control for School Meal Operations
Deputy Secretary Steve Censky today announced two new efforts to provide states and school districts with additional flexibility and support to operate more efficient school meal programs. Censky made the announcement during a speech at the School Nutrition Association Legislative Action Conference.
03/05/2018
Page updated: February 09, 2021
