Study finds ending universal free school meals linked to rising student meal debt and stigma
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Updates every hour. Last Updated: 15-Jan-2026 01:11 ET (15-Jan-2026 06:11 GMT/UTC)
A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, published by Elsevier, found that discontinuing universal free school meal (UFSM) policies significantly increases school meal debt, student stigma, and declines in participation. The research, based on a survey of nearly 1,000 school food authorities (SFAs) across eight states, also found that states continuing UFSM through state-level policies reported more stable revenues and greater student access to nutritious meals.
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