Chicago Schools Ups Nutrition Standards

Chicago Public School has announced a series of changes in its school menu approach that it says will help the district gain gold certification for some of its school sites under the USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge. The changes include reducing the number of times sweets like doughnuts and packaged desserts will be served, the elimination of “dessert or candy-like” choices in the breakfast program and increases in whole grain offerings (to one a day). There will also be new requirements on fiber (more) and sodium (less) content.

Chartwells-Thompson, which holds the current foodservice contract for the district, submitted the lowest bid for the contract next year, which will require the menu changes be implemented. The contract is for $58 million annually