Smart Snacks and Competitive Food Sales
This policy ensures compliance with the competitive food and beverage requirements established by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and the federal Smart Snacks in School standards. The goal is to protect the integrity of the school meal program and prevent competition with reimbursable meals.
This policy applies to all schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
Competitive Food and Beverage Sales
All foods and beverages sold to students during the school day are considered competitive with the Food Service program during designated meal periods.
Competitive food and beverage selling is not allowed:
- One-half hour before breakfast service begins
- During breakfast service
- Until one-half hour after breakfast service ends
- One hour before lunch service begins
- During lunch service
- Until the final lunch period has concluded
Per MDE Guidance
- Selling may only begin half hour after breakfast service ends
- Selling must stop one hour before lunch service begins
- Selling may resume after the last lunch period concludes
This includes, but is not limited to:
- All food and beverage fundraisers
- School stores – can sell during lunch as long as it follows the School Store Pricing and Smart Snack Guidelines
- Classroom sales
- Any other food or beverage sales to students during the school day
Food Service Areas During Mealtimes
The MDE does not allow fundraisers to be held in the cafeteria or serving area during mealtimes.
Exempt or compliant fundraisers may not be sold in the food service area during breakfast or lunch service, as they may not directly compete with reimbursable meals.
School Store Pricing
If a school store sells the same Smart Snacks compliant products as the Food Service Department:
- Items must be sold at the same price or higher than the Food Service Department price.
- School stores may not undercut Food Service pricing.
Fundraiser Exemptions
According to the 2015-16 Smart Snacks Fundraising Rules issued by the Michigan Department of Education:
- Each school building is allowed up to two exempt food and/or beverage fundraisers per week that do not meet Smart Snacks standards.
- These exempt fundraisers:
- May not be sold in the food service area during mealtimes.
- May not directly compete with reimbursable school meals.
All other food and beverage fundraisers conducted during the school day must meet Smart Snacks nutrition standards.
Required Fundraiser Tracking
Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) are required to:
- Track all student food and beverage fundraisers held during the school day.
- Maintain documentation for audit purposes.
- Submit the completed tracking sheet to the Food Service director at the end of each school year.
Documentation must be retained and made available during administrative reviews and audits.
Items That May Be Sold Anytime
The following may be sold any day, at any time:
- Fundraisers selling non-food items (e.g., apparel, candles, discount cards, etc.)
These items are not subject to Smart Snacks standards or competitive food time restrictions.
Compliance
Failure to comply with this policy may jeopardize the district’s participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and may result in corrective and financial action.
All school staff, student organizations, parent groups and booster clubs are responsible for adhering to this policy.