USDA to publish proposed rule maintaining school meal flexibilities

The United States Department of Agriculture says it will publish a proposed rule to relax milk, grains and sodium requirements in child nutrition programs. 

This proposed rule includes some flexibilities that were a part of the USDA's 2018 Final Rule that was struck down by a federal district court this past spring.

It would allow flavored, low-fat milk to be reimbursable in child nutrition programs and also allow half of the weekly grains offered through the school meal programs to be whole grain-rich. It would also retain the sodium target one deadline through the end of the 2023-2024 school year, giving schools more time to meet the target two guidelines, which would not be in place until the 2024-2025 school year. The final sodium target would be eliminated. 

The proposed rule will be published today and followed by a 30-day comment period.