The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has implemented new school meal standards to improve access to nutritious foods for vegetarians, vegans, and children with dietary restrictions.

Effective July 2024, these guidelines align with the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and are designed to enhance the overall nutritional quality of school meals. 

The updated rules allow schools to combine grains, meats, and meat alternatives, enabling the use of beans, peas, and lentils as substitutes for meat in lunch offerings. Cafeterias will serve diverse dishes such as black bean burgers and falafel pitas, ensuring that at least half a cup of plant-based alternatives are provided weekly.

Analyst QuickTake: Companies such as Impossible Foods and Rebellyous Foods have been providing school districts in the US with plant-based alternatives to provide sustainable and affordable alternatives to animal meat at the school level. The implementation of these new standards will likely drive up the demand for plant-based alternatives and provide startups with expansion opportunities.