By Priyanjana Pramanik, MSc.Reviewed by Lauren HardakerNov 27 2025. A federal bill is reshaping who qualifies for free school meals, putting high-need students at risk and forcing schools to absorb new administrative and financial burdens as they fight to keep kids fed. Study: From Policy to Plate: Implications of 2025 U.S. Federal Policy Changes on School Meals. Image credit: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com In a recent perspective in Nutrients, nutrition experts at Duke University highlighted their concerns about the impact of recent federal policy changes on the access of low-income children to school meals. They noted that restricting access to Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will likely reduce the number of children who can receive nutritious school meals at low or no cost, compromising their nutrition and well-being. Recent improvements in school meals Federal school meal programs remain essential sources of daily nutrition for millions of U.S. children, particularly those from low-income households. Many students receive up to half of their daily calories through these programs, making them a key public health intervention. Over the past decade, major reforms have significantly improved the nutritional quality of meals by increasing the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, while lowering sodium and saturated fat levels. Evaluations consistently show that policy meals are markedly healthier, with Healthy Eating Index gains of more than 40 % for both lunches and breakfasts. Participation patterns also suggest that school meals effectively reach vulnerable groups. Students from food-insecure households, rural communities, and historically marginalized racial/ethnic groups tend to participate at the highest rates. Furthermore, higher nutritional standards appear to encourage participation, as schools offering healthier meals experience a greater uptake among students. School meals now provide equitable nutritional quality across schools regardless of socioeconomic status or racial and ethnic composition, illustrating how federal policy can narrow long-standing dietary inequities.. . Despite these advances, persistent gaps remain. Added sugar levels in school meals have long exceeded dietary recommendations, particularly in breakfasts, where flavored milk and sweetened cereals significantly contribute to sugar intake. As a result, new federal added-sugar limits, which will roll out between 2027 and 2028, will further tighten nutritional standards. Complementary state-level efforts are also emerging, reflecting growing concerns about their links with poor cardiometabolic and mental health outcomes. Several states have also introduced or passed policies restricting dyes, additives, or ultra-processed foods in schools, with California becoming the first state to define and begin regulating ultra-processed foods. These combined actions demonstrate a broad commitment to improv Read More