Tennessee schools will soon see a clearer framework for managing food sales during school hours, following a recent virtual training session on Smart Snacks regulations hosted by the Tennessee Department of Education. The training emphasized the importance of adhering to federal nutrition standards while allowing for limited exemptions for school-sponsored fundraisers.

Under the new guidelines, schools can sell food and beverages that do not meet Smart Snacks standards for a maximum of 20 days per semester. This exemption is designed to support fundraising efforts, but it comes with strict oversight. School principals or designated staff are responsible for ensuring compliance with this limit and maintaining proper documentation.

Importantly, any exempted fundraiser items cannot be sold in competition with school meals during meal service hours. Fundraising activities held outside of school hours or off-campus are not subject to these Smart Snacks requirements, providing schools with some flexibility in their fundraising strategies.

The local school wellness policy must align with these standards, ensuring that all food and beverages sold on campus during the school day meet federal guidelines. While schools can implement stricter policies, they cannot relax the standards below federal requirements.

To ensure compliance, the state agency will conduct administrative reviews, evaluating at least 10% of food and beverage sales to confirm adherence to Smart Snacks regulations. Recent findings highlighted the need for schools to remove non-compliant items from sale, reinforcing the importance of these standards in promoting student health.

As schools prepare for the upcoming academic year, the training provided essential resources and scenarios to help staff navigate the complexities of Smart Snacks compliance. This proactive approach aims to foster a healthier school environment while balancing the need for fundraising opportunities.