S. 4599: Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act of 2026

The Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act of 2026 aims to promote the preparation of meals in schools using fresh, unprocessed ingredients, referred to as "scratch cooking." Here’s a breakdown of what the bill entails:

Establishment of a Pilot Program

The bill proposes the creation of a pilot program within the framework of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. This program will:

• Provide competitive grants to school food authorities to encourage the use of scratch cooking in school meal programs.
• Commence within 180 days of the bill's enactment and will last for two school years.

Definition and Priority for Scratch Cooking

Scratch cooking is defined in the bill as the preparation of food using ingredients that are minimally processed or unprocessed. School food authorities that apply for grants will be prioritized based on specific criteria:

• Serving a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
• Being self-operated or planning to be self-operated within a certain timeline.
• Employing workers represented by a collective bargaining agreement or planning to establish such agreements.

Eligible Uses of Grants

The grants awarded under this program can be used for various activities, including:

• Training for staff on how to prepare and serve scratch-cooked meals.
• Purchasing equipment necessary for scratch cooking.
• Compensating employees for the additional time spent on preparing scratch-cooked meals.
• Providing educational resources and engagements for students about scratch cooking.
• Investments in technology and software for better meal procurement related to scratch cooking.

Technical Assistance

The Secretary of Agriculture will partner with nonprofit organizations to offer technical assistance to schools. This will involve:

• Evaluating the needs of the school food authorities regarding equipment and workforce capabilities.
• Developing strategies based on these assessments to enhance the school meal programs.

Reporting Requirements

After the pilot program concludes, each participating school food authority is required to report to the Secretary on their activities using the grant. This report will assess:

• The percentage of whole ingredients and raw ingredients used in school meals.
• The proportion of menu items prepared with scratch cooking during the grant period.

Funding Authorization

The bill authorizes a total of $20 million for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031 to fund the pilot program, with specific allocations for administrative expenses and technical assistance.

Relevant Companies

• US Foods Holding Corp (USFD) - As a major foodservice distributor, US Foods might be affected in terms of product offerings and operational adjustments needed to accommodate the demand for scratch-cooked ingredients and equipment in schools if the bill is enacted.
• Sysco Corporation (SYY) - As a leading global foodservice distributor, changes in school procurement to prioritize scratch cooking could impact Sysco’s supply chain and product portfolio aimed at schools.