Dive Brief:

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that schools will be allowed a delay on the requirement to use 100% whole grain products beginning in the 2014-15 school year..  
• Schools that can prove they've made "significant changes" in serving whole-grain pasta will be given as many as two years to make the switch over from enriched pasta products. 
• Schools were currently only required to have 50% of grain products be whole-grain rich.

Dive Insight:

Many schools have already made the switch over to whole grain bread and rolls, but the switch for pastas, biscuits, and grits is proving to be more difficult for cafeterias needing to cook massive quantities for school lunches.  

"Schools raised legitimate concerns that acceptable whole-grain rich pasta products were not available," said Kevin Concannon, USDA undersecretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services. "We worked to find a solution which will allow more time for industry to develop products that will work for schools."

The news comes the day after a congressional panel discussed creating school waivers that would allow certain districts to opt out of the Obama administration's healthier school lunch standards.