SAFE &
HEALTHFUL
KIDS’
FOODS PROJECT
KITS Study:
Kitchen equipment, Infrastructure, &
Training in Schools
Maureen Spill, PhD
mspill@pewtrusts.org
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SAFE &
HEALTHFUL
KIDS’
FOODS PROJECT
The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation are working together on the Kids’ Safe and Healthful
Foods Project to provide nonpartisan analysis and evidencebased recommendations to help ensure that:
•
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) adopts sciencebased nutrition standards for all foods and beverages served
and sold in schools;
•
USDA develops and implements rigorous school food safety
policies; and
•
Schools have the resources they need to replace outdated
and broken kitchen equipment and train cafeteria employees.
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SAFE &
HEALTHFUL
KIDS’
FOODS PROJECT
School kitchen equipment: What’s the big deal?
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2009: $100 million in ARRA funding was made available for
equipment purchases
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2010: An additional $25 million in appropriations
–
•
Together, more than $630 million in requests
Fall 2012: new meal regulations took effect calling for more
fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, whole grains, etc.
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To implement these standards, many schools need additional
storage, refrigeration, ovens instead of deep fryers, etc.
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SAFE &
HEALTHFUL
KIDS’
FOODS PROJECT
What is the KSHF team doing about it?
1.) KITS Study: Assess and quantify the need for school
kitchen equipment and infrastructure upgrades, and training needs
2.) School Food Modernization Act: Bill to establish
equipment and infrastructure loan assistance/grant program &
strengthen training and technical assistance
3.) Innovative School Foodservice Financing
Strategies: Identify creative approaches for school kitchen
equipment and infrastructure funding
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SAFE &
HEALTHFUL
KIDS’
FOODS PROJECT
KITS Study
•
First-ever nationally representative, quantitative
study assessing school kitchen equipment needs
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Data is representative at both the national and
state level for all 50 states and District of Columbia
•
Web-based survey given to school food authorities
(district level)
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SAFE &
HEALTHFUL
KIDS’
FOODS PROJECT
KITS Study Methodology
Questionnaire development (March – August 2012)
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–
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Expert panel
Pilot questionnaire
Survey in field (August – November 2012)
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Over 3,300 SFAs completed the survey (thank you!)
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Analysis (December 2012 – March 2013)
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Report (Summer 2013)
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National report
State profiles
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SAFE &
HEALTHFUL
KIDS’
FOODS PROJECT
Preliminary findings
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Good news: many SFAs anticipated changes and were expecting to have
implemented the new meal patterns by end of 2012-13 school year
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Several barriers to meeting standards, but many have ‘workarounds’ in place
•
•
Increased fruits and vegetables present new equipment needs
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Receiving and storage (hand trucks/fork lifts, pallet jacks, scales, dry
storage shelving, walk-in refrigerators and freezers)
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Lunch service area (serving counters, cold food merchandizers, trays,
steam tables, serving portion utensils)
Infrastructure challenges: space, electrical, plumbing, ventilation, meeting code
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SAFE &
HEALTHFUL
KIDS’
FOODS PROJECT
School Food Modernization Act
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Introduced in last Congress by Representatives Tom
Latham (R-IA) and Mike McIntyre (D-NC)
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Establishes loan assistance & grant program
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Strengthens training and technical assistance
Broad support from coalition partners
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SAFE &
HEALTHFUL
KIDS’
FOODS PROJECT
Innovative School Foodservice Financing
Strategies
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Currently collecting insight into school foodservice equipment and
infrastructure financing successes at the state and local level
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Plan to hold a national convening to discuss innovative approaches
to meeting the needs identified by the KITS study.
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Publish a report highlighting strategies that can be used by school
food service directors and school administrators to address
equipment and infrastructure funding needs.
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Engage the private sector in working with schools to address
equipment and infrastructure needs.
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SAFE &
HEALTHFUL
KIDS’
FOODS PROJECT
For more information:
www.healthyschoolfoodsnow.org
Maureen Spill
mspill@pewtrusts.org
(202) 540 - 6705
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