K-12 foodservice operators have been pivotal in transforming school nutrition. We celebrate your achievements and support your journey towards serving nutritious, more delicious menus. As we adhere to the updated school meals standards, General Mills Foodservice is at the forefront with innovative solutions that align with regulations while keeping kids satisfied.
Since the implementation of the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, the nutrition quality of school meals has significantly improved. Recent research shows school foods are the most nutritious foods kids consume compared to other sources. The USDA has updated the school meal nutrition standards to further enhance the nutrition of school meals and the students who consume them. K-12 foodservice operators have shown they can meet today’s nutrition standards and are ready to tackle future challenges.
Added Sugar Standards: Starting in School Year 2025-26, there are product-based limits for cereal, yogurt, and flavored milk. By School Year 2027-28, weekly added sugar limits will also be implemented. Whole Grains: The current nutrition standards for whole grains remain unchanged, allowing schools to continue offering a variety of nutritious whole grain-rich foods. Sodium: Schools need to reduce sodium content in their meals starting in School Year 2027-28. This single sodium reduction provides schools and the industry with the necessary lead time to prepare. Milk: Schools can continue to offer flavored and unflavored milk, but new limits on added sugars in flavored milk will be implemented starting in School Year 2025-26.
It can be challenging to meet school meal nutrition standards, but we’re here to help with regulation-ready, great-tasting menu solutions.
All of our cereals and individually wrapped frozen breakfast products, like our new Pillsbury™ Mini Cinnis Caramel (Available February 2024), are whole grain-rich. Additionally, many of our cereals are CACFP-eligible, and in yogurt we offer products such as Yoplait® Trix™ Low-fat Reduced Sugar Yogurt helping you to manage added sugar across your menus.
At General Mills Foodservice, we are always innovating to make sure that K-12 operators have the tools they need to successfully meet nutrition standards. Helping you meet guidelines, our new Reduced Sugar Yoplait® ParfaitPro® Yogurt (Available January 2024), is a flexible product for any meal period and we offer products like our sodium-renovated whole grain-rich Pillsbury™ biscuits to help you meet weekly sodium targets and balance menus.
As updated school meals standards take effect, General Mills Foodservice is committed to helping you implement these changes.
Our new line of regulation-ready innovations, whole grain-rich portfolio, CACFP-eligible cereals, and recently renovated products feature the familiar flavors kids know and love. Our Reduced Sugar Yoplait® ParfaitPro® aligns with nutrition standards while providing the versatility you need to keep menus fun and creative. General Mills Foodservice is dedicated to supporting K-12 foodservice operators in strengthening their programs. By providing nutrient-dense, innovative products and maintaining transparent communication, we help ensure you can continue to deliver nutritious meals that kids, parents, and staff love.
“K-12 operators face so many different challenges, but at the end of the day providing nutritious meals for kids is a very important and honorable job. General Mills Foodservice is here to offer mealtime solutions to help with some of those challenges that may come K-12 operators’ way.” —Chef Heather