USDA Announces Ground Beef Acceptance Enhancements for School Lunch Programs

USDA Announces Ground Beef Acceptance Enhancements for School Lunch Programs dparker Mon, 07/20/2026 - 12:10 Date July 20, 2026 The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will move to an audit-based model for ensuring ground beef purchased for Federal food and nutrition assistance programs meets specifications and recipient needs. By removing unnecessary requirements, AMS will continue procuring high-quality, nutritious, safe and wholesome protein for USDA Foods recipients while also encouraging new vendor participation by lowering the barrier to entry and keepin