Feb 3 (Reuters) – School meals for millions of children in the United States would include less sugar, more whole grains, and lower sodium under new standards proposed by the Biden administration on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the updated standards, to be rolled out over the next several years, were essential to tackling health concerns like childhood obesity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This is a national security imperative. It\u2019s a healthcare imperative for our children. It\u2019s an equity issue. It\u2019s an educational achievement issue. And it\u2019s an economic competitiveness issue,” he said in a livestreamed event announcing the standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the proposed standards, by fall 2024, 80% of the grains provided by schools would need to be whole grain. By fall 2025, there would be limits for high-sugar products like cereals and yogurts, added sugar in flavored milks, and sodium. Future years would see additional limits on added sugar and sodium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n