Changes in School Use of USDA Foods Program Funds Following Changes in School Meal Nutrition Standards

BackgroundUpdates in nutrition standards for USDA's National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in 2012 required that meals include more fruit and vegetables. Most foods served in school meals come from commercial sources, but USDA also offers foods to schools through the USDA Foods Program. Through this program, states can use entitlement funds provided by USDA's Food Nutrition Service (FNS) to obtain a wide range of foods including meat, poultry, cheese, fruits and vegetables (primarily canned or frozen), purchased on their behalf by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) for use in the NSLP. States can also use these funds to acquire fresh fruit and vegetables distributed by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) under the USDA DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (DoD Fresh).ObjectiveTo examine how State-level use of USDA Foods entitlement funds for AMS-purchased foods and DoD Fresh fruit and vegetables changed after changes in NSLP nutrition standards in 2012. We focus on how States making high/low use of DoD Fresh prior to revised nutrition standards changed afterwards.Study Design, Setting, ParticipantsValues for total AMS-purchased food and DoD Fresh food were obtained from USDA, FNS.Measurable Outcome/AnalysisDescriptive data are used to describe food use changes over time nationally and by sub-groups of states. A fixed effects regression model is used to examine how states changed their orders after the 2012 update in NSLP nutrition standards.ResultsFollowing the change in NSLP standards, use of USDA foods funds shifted towards fresh fruit and vegetables obtained through DoD Fresh, rising from 6 percent to 15 percent of total USDA Foods entitlement funds over 2012-2017 nationwide. Use of USDA Foods funds for AMS-procured foods vs DoD Fresh varied both across states and over time.ConclusionFindings suggest DoD Fresh foods may have been helpful to school foodservices in meeting updated NSLP nutrition standards requiring more fruits and vegetables in school meals.FundingUSDA, Economic Research Service Updates in nutrition standards for USDA's National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in 2012 required that meals include more fruit and vegetables. Most foods served in school meals come from commercial sources, but USDA also offers foods to schools through the USDA Foods Program. Through this program, states can use entitlement funds provided by USDA's Food Nutrition Service (FNS) to obtain a wide range of foods including meat, poultry, cheese, fruits and vegetables (primarily canned or frozen), purchased on their behalf by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) for use in the NSLP. States can also use these funds to acquire fresh fruit and vegetables distributed by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) under the USDA DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (DoD Fresh). To examine how State-level use of USDA Foods entitlement funds for AMS-purchased foods and DoD Fresh fruit and vegetables changed after changes in NSLP nutrition standards in 2012. We focus on how States making high/low use of DoD Fresh prior to revised nutrition standards changed afterwards. Values for total AMS-purchased food and DoD Fresh food were obtained from USDA, FNS. Descriptive data are used to describe food use changes over time nationally and by sub-groups of states. A fixed effects regression model is used to examine how states changed their orders after the 2012 update in NSLP nutrition standards. Following the change in NSLP standards, use of USDA foods funds shifted towards fresh fruit and vegetables obtained through DoD Fresh, rising from 6 percent to 15 percent of total USDA Foods entitlement funds over 2012-2017 nationwide. Use of USDA Foods funds for AMS-procured foods vs DoD Fresh varied both across states and over time. Findings suggest DoD Fresh foods may have been helpful to school foodservices in meeting updated NSLP nutrition standards requiring more fruits and vegetables in school meals.