Availability of Lower-Sodium School Lunches and the Association with Selection and Consumption among Elementary and Middle School Students.

ABSTRACT:

Background

During 2010, the US Department of Agriculture updated the school meals standards, including three progressively decreasing sodium targets. The Target 1 standards went into effect in 2014, but during 2018, the US Department of Agriculture delayed the Target 2 standards until 2024 and eliminated the Target 3 standards citing concerns regarding the availability and acceptability of lower-sodium foods. In addition, there are currently no sugar standards, and it is unknown whether sugar is substituted for salt in lower-sodium school foods.

Objective

To examine the availability, selection, and consumption of school lunches already in alignment with the Target 2 and 3 sodium levels and the association between sodium and sugar.

Design

An observational cafeteria-bas

SUBMITTER: Cohen JFW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7768811 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature