Interview with US Department of Agriculture Secretary

National policy is something that affects all of our lives, especially as it relates to school meals. In the spring of 2024, the US Department of Agriculture released new School Meal regulations that updated nutrition requirements for the National School Meals Program. For the first time, the nutrition regulations set a limit on added sugars and sodium, among other improvements. These are changes that parents can celebrate!

In the past, improved nutrition standards have been met with political opposition and in some cases rolled back. Given the potential to improve the health of millions of children, I met with the USDA Secretary in the fall of 2024 to ask what parents need to know and how they can be supportive of the full implementation of the new school lunch regulations.

Additionally I asked how parents can get involved in improving meal quality in their local schools, what resources are available to schools, and how parents can get involved in national school meal quality.

It’s important to note that this conversation is applicable to all parents, regardless of political affiliations and regardless of the political administration. As parents, we can put politics aside and work together to protect the health of not only our own children, but also other children in our communities.

One thing the Secretary pointed out is that if families want something changed in their state or in their local school, it’s their responsibility to get involved at the state and local levels. Federal programs set national regulations, but don’t get involved in the details in the states. States have significant power over how those programs are implemented. An example is the state of California recently banning certain food dyes in school meals. 

Getting involved in advocacy takes more than protests and public statements. Real change comes through the coordinated efforts of many groups and people over time.

The California School Food Safety Act (A.B. 2316) was passed because it had:

• a clear scientific case highlighting risks to children’s health
• advocacy group partnerships, providing research and lobbying power
• legislative leadership through an assembly member who introduced the bill, built bipartisan support, and ushered the bill through the legislative process
• a narrow, school-focused scope, making it easier to gain support
• California’s position as a leader in progressive food and environmental policies
• over 70 groups, including scientists, educators, health professionals and consumer advocates, building public pressure and supporting the bill
• advocacy from parents, educators, and others concerned about child health and nutrition

If you want to bring change to school meals, whether it’s meal quality overall, scratch cooking, food dyes, or culturally/religiously appropriate meals, start locally, go to your school board and join or create parent groups that want to advocate for school meals. Policy changes take time, but when policy is changed, millions of children can benefit.