Under new standard issued by the United States Department of Agriculture, school meals will have to offer fruits and vegetables to students every day. Meal programs will also have to reduce sodium, saturated fat and trans fats, offer more whole grains, and offer fat-free or low-fat milk varieties.
The standards go into effect on July 1 and will be phased in over a three-year period.
According to CNN:
“Children will not be forced to take the vegetables and fruits onto their plates; the standards require that the various food groups be offered. Health groups reacted to the rules mostly favorably, although a controversy erupted in November after Congress decided that two tablespoons of tomato sauce was good enough to categorize a slice of pizza as a vegetable.”