New rules reduce sugar and salt in school lunches

Maya Sampath, News and Features Writer

May 7, 2024

The US Department of Agriculture finalized a regulation on April 24 to limit added sugars to 10% of the calories in school meals by 2027.

The regulation had first been proposed in February 2023, but several provisions were revised due to feedback from food corporations, school nutrition professionals and public comments.

This will be the first large-scale alternation of school meal standards passed since the Obama administration’s Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010, which effectively reduced BMI rates for children and teenagers.

“All of this is designed to ensure that students have quality meals and that we meet parents’ expectation that their children are receiving healthy and nutritious meals at school,” Tom Vilsack, the agriculture secretary, said in a call with reporters according to the New York Times.

Donate to The Chatterbox

$4500

Contributed

Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Walnut Hills High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment, cover our annual website hosting, printing costs and offset competition and conferences fees for students.

About the Contributors

Maya Sampath, News and Features Writer

In her second year as a Chatterbox staff member, Maya Sampath is thrilled to work as a News and Features Writer. She aspires to continue developing her writing and researching skills as well as interact with WHHS diverse student body. Sampath also plays for the girls’ soccer team, is co-president of Model United Nations, and is Vice President of the Class of 2025 Student Council. Sampath hopes to major in political science and possibly become a lawyer. In her free time, Sampath enjoys baking and listening to artists such as Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers.

Marwa Khzir, Managing Editor of Online Content

In her third year as a Chatterbox staff member, junior Marwa Khzir is excited to work as the Managing Editor of Online Content for the Chatterbox. Marwa Khzir hopes to improve her writing while also publishing as many articles as she can for the Chatterbox. Khzir's previous journalism experience includes News Writing 1, News Writing 2 and B/W Photography. Khzir is also involved in various extracurricular activities such as a Student Ambassador, a member of StuCO 2025, and the Fundraising Head for YPC (Youth Philanthropy Council). Khzir hopes to get into Law School and be a defense attorney in the future, helping wrongfully convicted prison members with getting freedom. Khzir enjoys playing soccer with her family and a favorite pastime for her is baking goods with her mom.