Section 84 School Meal Waste Study

(a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of elementary and secondary education shall analyze and report on practices related to school meals. The report shall include a review of food purchasing practices and consumption of school meals in K-12 public schools in the commonwealth, including recommendations for strategies to minimize food waste.

(b) The report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the quantity and cost of food purchased by each school district, including: (A) total foods purchased for school meals; (B) total foods served to students for school meals; and (C) total foods purchased but not served to students; (ii) school practices, categorized by school district, to prevent food that students did not consume, including, but not limited to, fruit or pre-packaged foods, from being discarded; and (iii) practices of other states to reduce school meal waste.

(c) The report shall include recommendations from the department to reduce food waste at public schools, including, but not limited to, the feasibility and effectiveness of: (i) increasing input from students, faculty, parents and guardians regarding nutritious meals that appeal to students; (ii) using offer-versus-serve models of meal selection at all grade levels; (iii) presenting meals and items on school menus to students in an appealing manner; (iv) allowing students to keep a breakfast or lunch item for consumption later in the day; (v) utilizing a shared table or food pantry in each school to offer excess food to school or community members; and (vi) increasing composting at each school.

(d) Not later than July 31, 2024, the department shall file its report and recommendations with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education.