


A new plan from the Department of Agriculture to reduce added sugars could ban popular cereals such as Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, and Honey Nut Cheerios, which exceed the new guidelines, from school meals.
Some school meal options with too much added sugar will be phased out by 2025, and other nutritional guidelines will be implemented, the USDA announced on Wednesday.
There previously was no limit on added sugars in school meals. The new rule sets guidelines for the amount of sodium in foods, including breakfast cereal, flavored milk, and yogurt. The guidelines will additionally phase in a weekly added sugar limit by 2027.
“We all share the goal of helping children reach their full potential,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said.
“Like teachers, classrooms, books, and computers, nutritious school meals are an essential part of the school environment, and when we raise the bar for school meals, it empowers our kids to achieve greater success inside and outside of the classroom,” he added.
The USDA said it “arrived at these changes after listening closely to public feedback and considering the latest science-based recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.”
Healthier brands, such as the original Rice Krispies, will be spared from the added sugar rule, which requires cereals to stay under 6 grams of added sugar per dry ounce.
“Expanding on this major milestone, the Biden-Harris administration will continue to partner with schools, districts, states, and industry to build on the extraordinary progress made to strengthen school meals,” Vilsack added.
Boston Public Schools Executive Director for Food and Nutrition Anneliese Tanner said similar guidelines are already in place for Boston Public Schools.
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“In Boston Public Schools, we’ve already been moving in this direction. We have the same added sugar limits in place and reduce sodium in our menus, and we have for many years. So, complying with the new regulations is totally doable. There’s a long implementation runway for others to move in this direction as well,” she added.
When changes were last proposed to added sugars, an uproar ensued from some school food workers who argued that stricter rules would be difficult to implement and expressed concern about the availability of healthier options.