New research from the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi suggests some popular school meals contain more sodium and added sugar than allowed under updated U.S. Department of Agriculture standards that take effect by fall 2027, the study published in Nutrition Reviews found.
Researchers surveyed 1,071 school nutrition professionals to identify what schools serve and what students eat most often, said Ruaa Al Juboori, assistant professor of public health and data analytics statistician. The team reviewed recipes for cafeteria items such as pizza, smoothies, yogurt parfaits, muffins and chicken wings to pinpoint high-sodium and high-sugar foods. For example, flavored chicken wing recipes averaged more than 2,100 milligrams of sodium per serving, the study said.
The researchers noted that the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend adults consume no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. The study said excess sodium intake over time is linked to high blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and that modest sodium reductions in school meals could yield long-term benefits for students who eat at school regularly.
As alternatives, the researchers suggested using herbs, spices and other flavor enhancers to reduce salt and added sugar without removing familiar foods. “While sodium and sugar make foods taste good, herbs and spices can also add flavor to the foods we eat,” said Marjuyua Lartey Gibson, director of the Institute of Child Nutritions Applied Research Division at Southern Miss. She urged taste testing and student feedback to ensure recipe changes are accepted.
The project aimed to help schools meet updated National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program guidelines while keeping meals appealing, said Aleshia Hall-Campbell, executive director of the Institute of Child Nutrition at Ole Miss. “School meals alone do not determine a child’s lifelong eating habits, but they can play an important role,” she said. The research was supported by USDA grant no. FNS-CN-ICN-FY23, and the report was republished courtesy of Ole Miss.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
