October 15, 2025 – 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.
