§1754 Nutrition promotion

Summary

The Secretary must pay State agencies each year, if money is available, to promote nutrition in federal school meal and related food service programs, including the school breakfast program. The total money for a year can be no more than one-half cent (½¢) multiplied by the number of lunches reimbursed in participating schools, institutions, and service institutions during the second preceding fiscal year. The Secretary gives each State either a set base amount or a share based on the State’s share of reimbursed lunches nationwide—whichever is larger—and will reduce those shares if needed so the total fits the funds available. A State may keep up to 5% of its payment (or a higher percentage for small States) to support distributing and using nutrition messages and materials made by the Secretary, and must pass the rest to school food authorities and institutions for that purpose. For the summer food service program, a State may also keep a portion to use with that program. States, school food authorities, and institutions must keep records of the nutrition promotion activities, the Secretary can reallocate unspent funds, and Congress may fund whatever sums are necessary, available until spent.