The United Fresh Produce Association has applauded the US Department of Agriculture's new Smart Snacks in School standards, which are designed to improve the nutritional quality of foods and beverages offered for sale to students in schools.
The nutrition standards apply to all foods and beverages sold a la carte, in school vending machines, stores, and snack bars, and must be implemented by 1 July 2014.
Standards will increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low fat dairy products for sale to students, while reducing the amount of calories, fat, sodium, and sugar on offer.
Designed to be consistent with the Dietary Guidelines, foods available for sale will now complement healthier school meals and help create healthier school food environments for school children in the US.
“Increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables as snacks in schools will go a long way towards creating a healthy school food environment and improving nutrition for 32m school children,” said Dr Lorelei DiSogra, United’s vice-president of nutrition & health.”In addition, this will drive opportunities for increased produce sales to schools, especially for fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables in convenient single servings.”
According to United Fresh, the new school snack standard complements and supports the recent improvements to school meals and underscores the commitment to improving child nutrition.
Landmark school lunch regulations, which were implemented at the beginning of the 2012/13 school year, doubled the amount of fruits and vegetables served every day and emphasised providing a wide variety of colourful fruits and vegetables each week.
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