School Meal Flexibility Rule gives more local control

The USDA published the School Meal Flexibility Rule on Nov. 29. According to the USDA announcement, the rule aims to give more local control to school districts to serve nutritious food students will actually eat. According to the interim final rule text, the rule will allow schools the option to serve 1 percent fat-flavored milk (currently, school milk options are fat-free and 1 percent fat milk, and fat-free flavored milk). It will also loosen requirements regarding the inclusion of whole-grain items if a school has a hardship related to that requirement, and will extend the deadline by which schools must hit lower sodium targets. Comments can be submitted online at www.regulations.gov using search phrase “FNS-2017-0021-0001.” Comments are due by Jan. 29, 2018.