A coalition of more than 100 organisations has written to the USDA urging significant changes to how pulse-based products are classified within federal Child Nutrition Programs.
The groups involved span food and agriculture sectors, school districts, food service professionals, and nutrition experts, reflecting broad support for the proposed changes.
At the heart of the push is a request for USDA to classify pulse-based pastas as meat alternatives, a designation that would allow them to satisfy the meat and meat alternate component in reimbursable school meals.
Currently, pulse pastas cannot be used to meet that requirement, limiting their presence in school cafeterias across the country despite their nutritional profile.
The coalition argues that pulse-based pastas are packed with nutrients, including protein, making them a strong candidate for the meat alternative category under existing meal pattern rules.
Supporters say the reclassification would also align with updated dietary guidelines, which call for nutrient-dense protein foods to be prioritised in meal planning.
Beyond the classification change, the coalition is also urging USDA to update its Food Buying Guide to include pulse flour products as creditable ingredients, which would make them more accessible to programmes participating in child nutrition schemes.
The coalition includes manufacturers and trade associations, with pulse trade group USA Pulse among those calling for greater legislative support for pulse crops in school meal programmes.
USA Pulse has called for legislation supporting the increased use of pulse crops, including foods like soybeans, lentils, and legumes, in school meal programs.
The group has also pushed for laws that allow pureed pulses and pulse-derived ingredients to qualify in federally reimbursable meals, broadening the scope of what schools can serve.
With growing interest in plant-based protein sources and pressure to improve the nutritional quality of school food, the coalition’s campaign reflects a wider shift in how food policy advocates are approaching child nutrition reform.
Whether USDA acts on the recommendations remains to be seen, but the scale and diversity of the coalition signals significant industry and public health momentum behind the cause.