The Food and Nutrition Service is proposing to update the requirements on using Vegetable Protein Products in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program (the child nutrition programs) given changes in food technology since the current provisions were adopted.
The major changes proposed are to: rename Vegetable Protein Products as Alternate Protein Products; remove the limit on the amount of these products that can be used; eliminate the requirement that alternate protein products be specially fortified; and update the test used to determine protein quality. These proposed changes would give menu planners more flexibility to incorporate these products into their menus along with the traditional protein sources of meat, poultry and seafood.