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Committee approves bill to align school meals, competitive foods with USDA standards
Summary
The Senate Education Committee unanimously released SB2167, which would require public and participating nonpublic schools to comply with USDA school meal nutrition standards — including future, more stringent federal rules — and extend those requirements to competitive foods sold in schools.
The Senate Education Committee on June 5 unanimously released Senate Bill 2167, which would require public schools and participating nonpublic schools to comply with U.S. Department of Agriculture nutritional standards for school meals and for competitive foods on campus.
Trevor Martindale, state government relations director for the American Heart Association, testified in favor and urged the committee to adopt committee amendments that strengthen the bill and protect students. Martindale said codifying the USDA standards — including the 2012 standards and recent 2024 updates — would increase fruit, vegetable and whole‑grain offerings while limiting calories, saturated fat, sodium and added sugars. He said the measures support lifelong healthy eating patterns and lower risks associated with chronic disease.
Other registered supporters included the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance, New Jersey principals and supervisors, the American Diabetes Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Garden State Coalition of Schools. The committee voted to release the bill with committee amendments.
Next steps: SB2167 was released and will proceed to subsequent legislative steps.
