USDA Unveils Historic Improvements to Meals Served in America’s Schools

FAIRFAX, Va., Jan. 25. 2012 – First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled new standards for school meals that will result in healthier meals for kids across the nation. The new meal requirements will raise standards for the first time in more than fifteen years and improve the health and nutrition of nearly 32 million kids that participate in school meal programs every school day.


-- School Meals Nutrition Standards Page
-- Federal Register Preview of Final Rule
-- New Meal Patterns and Dietary Specifications
-- Implementation Timeline

 

USDA Helps Florida, Missouri, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to Improve Nutrition of School-Aged Kids

Dec. 29, 2011 — USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon today announced awards to help four states improve enrollment in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs through a process called direct certification.
 

USDA Celebrates One Year Anniversary of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

Dec. 13, 2011 — First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today highlighted the achievements of the historic Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, one year after the legislation was enacted to combat child hunger and obesity and improve the health and nutrition of the nation's children.
 

USDA Announces New Tactics to Combat Fraud and Enhance SNAP Program Integrity

Dec. 6, 2011 — USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon today announced a new range of aggressive tactics to further improve program integrity of USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – formerly known as food stamps.

-- Integrity Fact Sheet
-- audio