MEND comments on the USDA School Nutrition Standards and new changes

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued their final rule that roles back school nutrition standards. Included in this ruling is the elimination of the final sodium target, a decrease in whole grains and allows 1% flavored milk back in schools. This is extremely worrying as studies have shown that eating healthier in school improves children’s health and helps them to perform better in school. At MEND, we focus on improving children’s diets at school, at home and when eating out. It just does not make sense to move backwards, when we are still struggling to give children the best start in life, to help prevent the epidemic of obesity and diabetes. MEND calls on the USDA to retract their final rules, before school meal standards are lowered and children’s health affected.