Food Service Updates
California served over 816,000,000 school breakfasts and lunches to our students in SY 2025-26!
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued new guidance, SP 02-2026 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), 2025–2030 – Eat Real Food, accessed at https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/cn/dga-realfood.The DGAs emphasize nutrient-dense proteins; encourage a variety of dairy fat options; promote eating a variety of fruits and vegetables; prioritize whole grains; and limit processed foods, added sugars, and refined carbohydrates.
The USDA also issued the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 and the Final Rule: Expanding Fluid Milk Options in Child Nutrition Programs. This rule allows schools the option to offer reduced-fat and whole milk in the School Nutrition Programs. It also excludes the saturated fat content of fluid milk from the weekly average calculations for lunch and breakfast when determining compliance with the federal meal pattern requirements. We anticipate the release of a proposed rule for new federal meal standards later this year.
In early 2027, California will take additional steps to limit highly processed foods. The Health and Safety Code will prohibit the manufacture, sale, or provision of food products containing brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye number 3. Then, effective December 31, 2027, to be eligible for state meal reimbursement, school foods cannot contain Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6. I encourage you to begin educating students, parents, and the school community in advance of these new restrictions.
- Expanded Work Requirements: Able-bodied adults aged 18–65 without dependents must work or volunteer 80+ hours monthly. This expands from the previous age cap of 55.
- Exemption Changes: Veterans, homeless individuals, and young adults (formerly in foster care) are no longer exempt from work requirements.
- Noncitizen Eligibility: Guidance has been updated to restrict eligibility for certain noncitizens, such as those under asylum and refugee laws.
- "Junk Food" Restrictions: Starting April 2026, some states, including Texas and Florida, are restricting purchases of items like sweetened beverages, candy, and prepared desserts.
- Funding & Operations: While funding is secured through September 30, 2026, due to a November 2025 continuing resolution, the new law shifts more administrative and benefit costs to states.
- Maximum Benefit Amounts (FY2026):
- 1 Person: $298/month
- 2 People: $546/month
- 3 People: $785/month
- 4 People: $994/month.