California is the first state to mandate the latest recommended school meal nutrition guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signing of SB 348 on Sunday.
Effective Jan. 1, the law will set nutrition standards to reduce sugar and salt while offering more whole grains in school meals as outlined in the federal proposed guidance. USDA’s final updated school nutrition guidelines are expected in April 2024.
In February, the USDA announced its proposed rule to gradually strengthen school nutrition standards through 2029. If finalized, the rule would require most schools to primarily offer whole grains beginning in fall 2024 with incremental reductions in sugar and sodium content phasing in over the next five years.
