Final Rule: Waiver of the Requirement To Use Weighted Averages in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs

This final rule makes a technical change to the regulations governing the nutrient analysis of meals served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. Program regulations require school food authorities to use “weighted averages” for nutrient analysis of their school meals.

Under this method, the nutrient content of school meals is measured (weighted) according to the quantity of food items chosen by students. This final rule extends, until Sept. 30, 2009, the waiver for conducting a weighted nutrient analysis. This rule responds to changes made under the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 and is intended to provide school food authorities with additional time to gain operational experience with nutrient analysis.