[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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