USDA Announces Major School Lunch Overhaul: Out with Processed, In with Fresh
The USDA today announced sweeping reforms to the National School Lunch Program, mandating significant reductions in ultra-processed foods and increases in fresh, whole food options for America's 30 million student participants.
Key Changes
- 50% reduction in added sugars by 2027
- Elimination of all artificial colors and flavors by 2026
- 25% of ingredients must be sourced from local farms
- New limits on sodium, matching international standards
- Fresh fruit and vegetable requirements doubled
Funding Support
The reforms come with $2 billion in additional funding to help schools build scratch cooking capacity and source higher-quality ingredients.
MAHA Daily Editorial: This is what the MAHA movement looks like in action. Our children deserve real food, not industrial products designed for shelf life over nutrition. Now let's make sure these rules are actually enforced.
