(April 30, 2012)—USDA has issued SP 30-2012: Grain Requirements for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, a new policy memo providing guidance on the whole-grain requirements under the new meal pattern, which will become effective on July 1, 2012.
The memorandum sets forth the criteria to be used by school food authorities (SFAs) and program operators to determine grains which meet the regulatory standards and to
determine equivalent minimum serving sizes (oz eq). It also includes examples of foods that qualify as grains based on the nutrition standards in the school meal programs.
Among other details, the memo clarifies that USDA will allow SFAs and program operators to credit grain products based on the current 14.75 grams of grains per serving through School Yea 2012-2013. All grain products must be credited based on per oz eq standards beginning on July 1, 2013, the beginning of School Y 2013-2014.
The complete memo can be found at: http://origin.www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Policy-Memos/2012/SP30-2012os.pdf.
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