[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 54 (Monday, March 21, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 15225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6403]
[[Page 15225]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
7 CFR Parts 210 and 220
Incorporating the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Into the
Proposed School Meal Patterns
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This document informs the public about a change in the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans that affects the proposed rule ``Nutrition
Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs''
issued by the Department of Agriculture and published in the Federal
Register on January 13, 2011. Members of the public are asked to
address this change when writing comments on the above referenced rule
to assist the Department in updating the school meal patterns and
nutrition standards according to the latest dietary recommendations.
DATES: The public comment period for the proposed rule closes on April
13, 2011.
ADDRESSES: All comments should be submitted under the proposed rule,
``Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast
Programs,'' (FNS-2007-0038), which is posted at http://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Brewer, Chief, Policy and
Program Development Branch, Child Nutrition Division, Food and
Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture, 703-305-2590, 3101 Park
Center Drive, Room 640, Alexandria, Virginia 22302-1594.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
(NSLA), 42 U.S.C. 1758, requires that meals served under the National
School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program reflect the most
recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). The DGAs are the
federal government's evidence-based nutritional guidance to promote
health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and reduce the prevalence
of overweight and obesity through improved nutrition and physical
activity.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a proposed rule on
January 13, 2011 (76 FR 2494), to align the school meal patterns and
nutrition standards with the 2005 DGAs, the most current at the time of
publication. On January 31, 2011, USDA and the Department of Health and
Human Services released the 2010 DGA recommendations. The 2010 DGA
recommendations contain two changes from the 2005 recommendations which
could affect the proposed school meal patterns.
The 2010 DGAs include a new Red-Orange vegetable subgroup, while
the proposed meal patterns include an Orange vegetable subgroup and
group the Red vegetables under the category of Other vegetables
(consistent with the 2005 DGAs). However, the proposed meal patterns do
reflect the emphasis on consuming a variety of vegetables, which is a
key recommendation of the 2005 and 2010 DGAs. Consuming a variety of
vegetables provides children with a number of nutrients that are under
consumed in the United States, including dietary fiber, folate,
magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A, C, and K.
The 2010 DGAs also advise consuming protein from a variety of
sources, and recommend weekly amounts from three Protein foods
(formerly Lean meat and beans) subgroups: (1) Seafood; (2) meat,
poultry, and eggs; and (3) nuts, seeds, and soy products. The proposed
meal patterns contain weekly and daily amounts of meats/meat
alternates, but do not specify amounts for subgroups introduced by the
2010 DGAs. Consumption of a balanced variety of protein foods can
contribute to improved nutrient intake and health benefits.
Therefore, this document requests the public to:
1. Consider the impact of the new Red-Orange vegetable subgroup and
the new protein foods subgroups on the proposed school meal patterns,
2. Evaluate the need to revise the proposed meal patterns to
reflect the new vegetable subgroup and protein foods subgroups, and
3. Address how the new vegetable subgroup and protein foods
subgroups may be incorporated into the proposed meal patterns in a
sound and practical manner.
Individuals wishing to address the effect of these changes, or any
other issues, on the proposed rule ``Nutrition Standards in the
National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs'' (76 FR 2494), may
submit their comments when providing comments on the above-referenced
proposed rule.
Dated: March 14, 2011.
Julia Paradis,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-6403 Filed 3-18-11; 8:45 am]
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