Study Finds Ending Universal Free School Meals Linked to Rising Student Meal Debt and Stigma

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.

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey in the spring of 2023 with 941 SFAs from states that either deimplemented UFSM or enacted statewide policies to continue it. The survey examined impacts on school meal participation, foodservice revenues, staffing needs, administrative burden, stigma, and student meal debt. States included California, Maine, and Massachusetts (continuing UFSM) and Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Illinois, and New Jersey (deimplementing UFSM).

Results showed stark differences between states. Among SFAs in states that deimplemented UFSM, 73% reported declines in meal participation compared with 15% in states with UFSM. Similarly, 76% reported increases in unpaid meal charges and school meal debt, compared with just 5% in UFSM states. Stigma for low-income students was also higher in states without UFSM (26% vs 5%). Although staffing challenges were somewhat lower in states that ended UFSM, declines in revenue and participation created significant financial strain for school meal programs.

“Universal free school meals not only reduce stigma but also ensure more students have access to healthy meals,” said lead author Juliana Cohen, ScD, RD, Director of the Center for Health Innovation, Research, and Policy at Merrimack College, and Adjunct Professor of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “Our findings show that removing these policies comes at a cost to both school nutrition programs and student well-being.

The authors conclude that reimplementing or expanding UFSM policies could help reduce financial strain on schools, lessen meal debt, and improve equitable access to nutrition for students. They also note the importance of addressing ongoing staffing shortages in school meal programs to support sustainable implementation.

Notes for editors

The article is "Impact of Deimplementing Universal Free School Meals: School Food Authority Perspectives," by Juliana F.W. Cohen, ScD, RD; Monica D. Zuercher, PhD; Dania Orta-Aleman, PhD; Leah E. Chapman, PhD; Christina A. Hecht, PhD; Kenneth Hecht, LLB; Punam Ohri-Vachaspati, PhD, RD; Deborah A. Olarte, PhD, RD; Anisha I. Patel, MD; Michele Polacsek, PhD; Marlene B. Schwartz, PhD; Lorrene D. Ritchie, PhD, RD; and Wendi Gosliner, DrPH, RD (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2025.06.001). It appears in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, volume 57, issue 10 (October 2025), published by Elsevier.

The article is openly available for 90 days at https://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(25)00334-3/fulltext.

Full text of the article is also available to credentialed journalists upon request; contact Eileen Leahy at 732 406 1313 or [email protected] to obtain a copy. To schedule an interview with the author(s), please contact Juliana F.W. Cohen, ScD, RD, at [email protected].

This research was supported by Healthy Eating Research, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and California General Fund SB 170.

An audio podcast featuring an interview with Juliana F.W. Cohen, ScD, RD, and other information for journalists are available at https://www.jneb.org/content/media. Excerpts from the podcast may be reproduced by the media with permission from Eileen Leahy.

About the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB)

The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB), the official journal of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB), is a refereed, scientific periodical that serves as a resource for all professionals with an interest in nutrition education and dietary/physical activity behaviors. The purpose of JNEB is to document and disseminate original research, emerging issues, and practices relevant to nutrition education and behavior worldwide and to promote healthy, sustainable food choices. It supports the society’s efforts to disseminate innovative nutrition education strategies and communicate information on food, nutrition, and health issues to students, professionals, policy makers, targeted audiences, and the public.

The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior features articles that provide new insights and useful findings related to nutrition education research, practice, and policy. The content areas of JNEB reflect the diverse interests of health, nutrition, education, Cooperative Extension, and other professionals working in areas related to nutrition education and behavior. As the Society's official journal, JNEB also includes occasional policy statements, issue perspectives, and member communications. www.jneb.org

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