New data from the USDA allows for the first comparison between number of meals served and reimbursements in the year preceding the pandemic (March 2019 – February 2020) and the first full year of the pandemic (March 2020 – February 2021).
So, how did school nutrition programs fare in the first full year of the pandemic?
A SNA analysis of the data shows school meal programs served nearly 30% fewer meals to students and incurred significant losses in federal revenue in the first twelve months of the pandemic.
An SNA analysis of the newly released USDA data shows that in the first full year of the pandemic, schools nationwide served 2.2 billion fewer meals compared to the year preceding the pandemic, equating to a $2.3 billion loss in federal revenue for school meal programs.
For details on lunch and breakfast and to view the full report click here.
