As USDA prepares to update school meal standards in line with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a coalition of more than a dozen pro-meat, MAHA aligned parents, livestock producers and nutrition and agriculture organizations is calling on the agency to focus first on improving the quality and sourcing of meat and dairy served in schools, before considering any increase in protein requirements. 

In a sign-on letter to Secretary Rollins and USDA Food and Nutrition Service leadership, the coalition warns that increasing protein requirements without stronger sourcing standards could deepen reliance on industrial livestock supply chains that depend on routine antibiotics, growth-promoting drugs, and feed. The group notes that students already meet the new protein requirements and are more likely to be deficient in fiber and overall diet quality.

“Children deserve meat and dairy raised without routine drugs and excessive chemical inputs,” said John Klar, an author, ag expert and organic livestock producer that advises the MAHA movement. “By strengthening sourcing standards and supporting local and regional producers, USDA can improve children’s health while creating fair market opportunities for farmers doing it right.”

The letter highlights concerns about the widespread use of processed meats in school meals, as well as the routine use of pharmaceuticals and chemical-intensive feed in industrial livestock production. The coalition is urging USDA to prioritize sourcing meat and dairy produced without routine antibiotics, growth-promoting drugs, or unnecessary additives, alongside investments in farm-to-school programs and kitchen infrastructure that allow schools to prepare fresh, minimally processed meals.

“Changing the procurement rules to allow school districts and food service directors the latitude to purchase and serve good wholesome locally grown foods, whenever possible will benefit our American Society by nourishing the future generations and giving our farmers and ranchers more avenues to put these products on those plates.” said Carrie Balkom, executive director of American Grassfed Association.

“More protein isn’t the problem—better quality protein and more fiber is,” said Elizabeth Kucinich, founder of the Heartland Heritage Alliance. “If USDA raises protein requirements without addressing how meat and dairy are produced, schools will be pushed toward the same low-cost, highly processed industrial food products that undermine children’s health.”

The letter recommends a phased approach: maintain current protein (M/MA) requirements while strengthening sourcing standards, increasing fiber and whole foods, expanding local procurement pathways and investing in school kitchen capacity. Once these foundations are in place, USDA can reassess whether any changes to protein requirements are needed.

“The MAHA mandate is clear: you cannot make America healthy again without fixing what America's children eat at school. Five days a week, millions of kids are served food sourced from industrial supply chains dependent on antibiotics, growth-promoting drugs, and chemical inputs," said Sayer Ji, a prominent MAHA activist and chair of the Global Wellness Forum. "Secretary Rollins has both the authority and the moment to change that.

"Strengthen sourcing standards, invest in farm-to-school infrastructure, and put children's health ahead of industrial convenience. The science supports it. The public demands it. And the farmers doing it right deserve the market.” said Sayer Ji, a prominent MAHA activist and chair of the Global Wellness Forum.