Specific Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods in Public Schools

(A) Beverages. (1) Juice. (a) All juice shall be made of 100% fruit or vegetable juice, with no added sugar, and may or may not be diluted with water or carbonated water. (b) Servings of juice shall be no more than eight ounces. (2) Milk and Milk Substitutes. (a) All milk and milk substitutes, which include alternative milk beverages such as lactose-free and soy milk, shall be fat free or low-fat (1% or less). (b) All milk and milk substitutes shall meet the USDA definitions and standards for fluid milk and milk substitutes. (c) Servings of milk and milk substitutes shall be no more than eight ounces. (d) Flavored milk and flavored milk substitutes must be fat free and have no more than 22 grams of sugar per eight ounces. (3) Water. Water shall contain no added sugars, sweeteners or artificial sweeteners, but may contain natural flavorings and/or carbonation. (4) Other Beverages. No beverages other than juice, milk, milk substitutes, and water, as defined in 105 CMR 225.200(A) shall be sold or provided. (B) Food. (1) Calories. Foods shall not exceed 350 calories for entrée items (including accompaniments) or 200 calories for side or snack dish items (including accompaniments). (2) Fat. No food shall contain more than 35% of its total calories from fat, except as provided in 105 CMR 225.200(B)(4). (3) Saturated Fat. No food shall contain more than 10% of its total calories from saturated fat, except as provided in 105 CMR 225.200(B)(5). (4) Exceptions to Standards on Fat Content. Regardless of the limits established above in 105 CMR 225.200(B) for fat content, schools may provide or sell up to one ounce of nuts, seeds, nut/seed butters, reduced fat cheese, part-skim mozzarella, or products that consist of only dried fruit with nuts and/or seeds with no added nutritive sweeteners or fat. Additionally, schools may provide or sell seafood with no added fat. No other combination products are exempt from the fat standard. (5) Exceptions to Standards on Saturated Fat Content. Regardless of the limits established above in 105 CMR 225.200(B) for saturated fat content, schools may provide or sell up to one ounce of nuts, seeds, nut/seed butters, reduced fat cheese, part-skim mozzarella, or products that consist of only dried fruit with nuts and/or seeds with no added nutritive sweeteners or fat. No other combination products are exempt from the saturated fat standard. (6) Trans Fat. All foods shall be trans fat-free. (7) Sugar. No food shall contain more than 35% of its weight from total sugars; provided, however, that a public school may provide or sell: (a) Fresh, frozen and canned fruits/vegetables with no added sweeteners except for fruits packed in 100% juice; (b) Products consisting of only dried fruit with nuts and/or seeds with no added nutritive sweeteners or fat; and (c) Dried whole fruits/vegetables, dried whole fruit/vegetable pieces, dried dehydrated fruits/vegetables with no added nutritive sweeteners, and dried fruits with nutritive sweeteners that are required for processing and/or palatability purposes, i.e., cranberries, tart cherries, and blueberries. 225.200: continued (8) Sodium. No food shall contain more than 200 mg of sodium per item, with the exception of a la carte entrées, which shall not contain more than 480 mg of sodium per item. (9) Grains. All bread and other grain-based products shall be comprised of whole grains. (C) Food and Beverages. (1) Artificial Sweeteners. No food or beverage shall contain an artificial sweetener. (2) Caffeine. No food or beverage shall contain more than trace amounts of caffeine. (3) Accompaniments. All accompaniments must be included in the nutrient profile as a part of the item served.