2. FOOD Regulations for Mississippi Schools:

All foods sold in schools must meet the following ingredients and nutrient requirements:

1. Be a Whole Grain-Rich (WGR) product; or
2. Have as the first ingredient a fruit, vegetable, a dairy product, or a protein food; or
3. Be a combination food that contains at least 1/4 cup of fruit and/or vegetable; or

4. Contain 10% of the Daily Value (DV) of one of the nutrients of public health concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (calcium, potassium, vitamin D, or dietary fiber).

   • a. Calories Limits:

   • i. Snack/Side items: No more than 200 calories

   • ii. Entree items: No more than 350 calories

   • b. Sodium Limits:

   • i. Snack/Side items: No more than 230 mg

   • ii. Entree items: No more than 480 mg

   • c. Fat Limits:

   • i. Total fat: No more than 35% of calories

   • ii. Saturated fat: < 10% of calories

   • iii. Trans fat: zero grams

   • d. Sugar Limits:

   • i. No more than 35% of weight from total sugars in foods (excludes sugars naturally occurring in fruits, vegetables, and dairy). For smoothies (made with low-fat yogurt or other low-fat dairy alternatives and/or fruit/juice), yogurt and pudding, no more than 5 grams total sugar (added and naturally occurring) per ounce.

   • e. Exemptions:

   • i. Dried/dehydrated fruits or vegetables with no added nutritive sweeteners; or

   • ii. Dried fruits with nutritive sweeteners for processing and/or palatability; or

   • iii. Products consisting of only exempt dried fruit with nuts and/or seeds with no added nutritive sweeteners or fats.

   • f. Food Accompaniments

   • i. Accompaniments such as cream cheese, sugar, sweeteners, salad dressing, ketchup etc., must be included in the nutrient analysis as part of the food item sold.

3. BEVERAGE Regulations for Mississippi Schools: The fluid and nutrition needs of young people at school are best met through well- balanced, nutrient-rich school meals provided through Child Nutrition Programs, planned by nutrition professionals following US Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines.

Beverages for All Grades:

Beverage Elementary School (K-5) Middle School (6-8) High School (9-12) Plain Water, Carbonated or not No Size Limit No Size Limit No Size Limit Low-Fat Milk, Unflavored ≤ 8oz. ≤ 12oz. ≤ 12oz. Non-Fat Milk, Unflavored or Flavored ≤ 8oz. ≤ 12oz. ≤ 12oz. 100% fruit/vegetable juice ≤ 8oz. ≤ 12oz. ≤ 12oz.

Other Flavored Beverages in High Schools ONLY:

• a. Calorie-Free Beverages: Maximum serving size 20 fluid ounces (20 oz.)

• i. Calorie -free flavored water, with or without carbonation

• ii. Other calorie-free beverages with less than 5 calories per 8 fluid ounces

• iii. (8 oz.), or up to 10 calories per 20 fluid ounces

• b. Lower Calorie Beverages: Maximum serving size 12 fluid ounces (12 oz.)

• i. Up to 60 calories per 12 fluid ounces; or

• ii. Up to 40 calories per 8 fluid ounces

4. CAFFEINE:
   • a. Elementary and Middle School (K-8)
   • i. Foods and beverages must be caffeine-free, with the exception of trace amounts of naturally occurring caffeine substances.
   • b. High School (9-12)
   • i. Coffee and tea may be sold in high schools only; however, if cream and sweetener are offered as accompaniments, the cream and sweetener must be included in the evaluation of the coffee or tea against the beverage standard. The use of accompaniments may be averaged over the number of drinks sold. The other beverage standard in high school permits <60 calories per 12 fl oz; this is the same as <5 calorie per 1 fl oz. If a smaller beverage is served, the calories may not exceed 5 calories per fl oz, for example a 6 fl oz beverage may have no more than 30 calories.

The State Board of Education (SBE) shall adopt Smart Snacks Standard for All Foods and Beverages Sold in Mississippi Schools. These Standard will ensure school district compliance of what products can be sold and the time of day they can be sold on a school campus.The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 directed the USDA to establish nutrition Standard for all foods and beverages sold to students in schools during the school day.