Mike Licht / CC
As USDA prepares to update school meal standards in line with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a coalition of more than a dozen pro-meat, MAHA aligned moms, livestock producers and nutrition and agriculture organizations is calling on the agency to focus first on improving the quality and sourcing of meat and dairy served in schools—before considering any increase in protein requirements.
In a letter to Secretary Rollins and USDA Food and Nutrition Service leadership, the coalition warns that increasing protein requirements without stronger sourcing standards could deepen reliance on industrial livestock supply chains that depend on routine antibiotics, growth-promoting drugs, and feed. The group notes that students already meet the new protein requirements, while children are far more likely to be deficient in fiber and overall diet quality.pesticide-intensive
“Children deserve meat and dairy raised without routine drugs and excessive chemical inputs,” said John Klar, an author, ag expert and organic livestock producer that advises the MAHA movement. “By strengthening sourcing standards and supporting local and regional producers, USDA can improve children’s health while creating fair market opportunities for farmers doing it right.”
“More protein isn’t the problem—better quality protein and more fiber is,” said Elizabeth Kucinich, founder of the Heartland Heritage Alliance. “If USDA raises protein requirements without addressing how meat and dairy are produced, schools will be pushed toward the same low-cost, highly processed industrial food products that undermine children’s health.”
The letter recommends a phased approach: maintain current protein requirements while strengthening sourcing standards, increasing fiber and whole foods, expanding local procurement pathways, and investing in school kitchen capacity. Once these foundations are in place, USDA can reassess whether any changes to protein requirements are needed.
Source: TFG PR
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