4/8/2022
With federal waivers for school meals now in flux, school nutrition professionals report the timing could not be worse because of high inflation and supply chain challenges that are driving up the cost of menu items and other materials. "Losing the waivers would be a double hit financially," said Diane Pratt-Heavner, director of media relations of the School Nutrition Association. "Not only would they lose that higher reimbursement rate, but they would see their meal participation decline, because the meals are no longer free for all students."