School Nutrition Services (SNS) Research

Publication: Journal of School Health

Date Published: December 2025

Reference:

Orta-Aleman, D., Zuercher, M. D., Chapman, L. E., Schwartz, M. B., French, C. D., Patel, A. I., Ritchie, L., Cohen, J., & Gosliner, W. (2026). Universal school meal policies and perceived stigma: Quantitative evidence from eight U.S. states. Journal of School Health, 96(1), e70098. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.70098

Key Takeaways: Universal school meal (USM) policies were associated with reduced feelings of stigma among lower-income students, but some higher-income students in USM states reported increased embarrassment about eating school meals, highlighting mixed impacts across socioeconomic groups. Overall, feelings of embarrassment were linked to lower meal participation, suggesting that maximizing the benefits of USM policies requires pairing them with efforts to improve meal quality, cultural relevance, and inclusive messaging.

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