This bill mandates that all public schools in New Jersey adhere to the nutrition standards for the National School Lunch Program and federal School Breakfast Program as established by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and published in the Federal Register on January 26, 2012. The legislation emphasizes the importance of maintaining these standards to combat rising obesity rates among children and adolescents, which currently stands at 14.8 percent in New Jersey. The bill also stipulates that if the USDA adopts more stringent nutrition standards in the future, public schools must comply with those as well.

The act is designed to ensure that all reimbursable meals provided under these programs meet the specified nutrition guidelines, thereby promoting healthier eating habits among students. The bill is set to take effect immediately but will first apply to the 2024-2025 school year, reinforcing the commitment to improving student health and educational outcomes through better nutrition.