(January 25, 2012 - The Packer)—School meals 2.0 will include twice the servings of fruits and vegetables as before.
The long-awaited final rule on school nutrition standards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture was issued Jan. 25. Industry and nutrition advocates were quick to praise the increased emphasis on fruits and vegetables, whole grains and reduced sodium, despite contested allowances for french fries and counting tomato paste on pizza as a vegetable.
The updated school standards double the amount of fruits and vegetables served to 32 million students in the National School Lunch Program, according to a news release from the Washington, D.C.-based United Fresh Produce Association. The final rule aligns the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs with 2010 Dietary Guidelines.
Read more on The Packer website: http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/foodservice/Its-official-school-meal-standards-double-fresh-produce-138050523.html
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