Fundraising Sales: Smart Snacks in Schools
What is Smart Snacks in Schools?
As a part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010 passed by the U.S. Congress, nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools were established to promote a healthy school environment. These requirements went into effect July 1, 2014. An increasing body of research tells us that giving school children healthy food options at school will help them make healthier choices and can reduce their risk for obesity.
The law specifies that the nutrition standards shall apply to all food sold outside the school meal programs, on the school campus, and at any time from the midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day. The Smart Snacks standards apply to a la carte in the cafeteria, school stores, snack bars, vending machines, fundraising, and other venues where food is sold to students during the school day.
Food Fundraisers Sold in Schools
School fundraisers must follow nutrition standards in the Smart Snacks regulations.
Schools can have an unlimited number of fundraising sales of NON-food items.
There is no limit to the number of food-based fundraising sales when the food and beverages being sold meet Smart Snack guidelines. Individual schools must maintain records of products sold to students during the school day to show that these products meet Smart Snacks standards. These records would include receipts, nutrition labels, specifications and any other proof that the food or beverage meets the standards.
Food and beverages that do not meet the Smart Snack regulations may only be sold:
- In the evenings, 30 minutes after the end of the school day
- On weekends
- Off campus, or
- On approved exempted fundraising days. In Kansas each school organization recognized by the Board of Education may conduct one fundraiser per semester (with each fundraiser lasting no longer than two days) that does not meet the Smart Snacks standards. Receipts, nutrition labels, etc. are not required for these foods and beverages, but each school must maintain records that document when, where, and what was sold in the exempt fundraisers held at that site.
Check out the tools to the side that can help your school be compliant in Smart Snacks.
Helpful Tools
Frequently Asked Questions about Smart Snacks in Schools
What does this apply to?
- Ala cart sales, vending machines, school stores, school sales, snack carts, fundraisers, culinary class sales
What does this NOT apply to?
- Food given to students for free
- Concession stands held afterschool or on non-school days
- Birthday treats or food brought from home
- Vending machines in teacher's lounges
- Food sold to students off school campus
What is a fundraisers?
- The USDA considers a fundraiser to be an event that includes any activity during which currency, tokens or tickets, etc., are exchanged for the sale/purchase of a product in support of the school or school-related activity. Examples might include:
- Giving away food but suggesting a donation
- Vending machine where the profits support the school or school-related activity
- Bake sales
- Pizza sold in the classroom
- Candy sales
- Food Trucks/Business Sales where the profits support the school or school-related activity
- School stores where the profits support the school or school-related activity
- Food prepared and sold by Culinary, Business or Special Education Programs
- Fundraisers fall under the Smart Snack guidelines for sales occurring at anytime from the midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day.
- Fundraiser that occur off school property or during a school night event (sporting events, school carnivals and festivals) are exempt from the Smart Snack guidelines.
Who does Smart Snacks pertain to?
- Smart Snacks pertains to anyone involved with selling food to students during the school day. These people must maintain recordkeeping documents. This may include: teachers, principals, culinary arts, athletic directors, administration, nutrition services or other personnel.
- If a food or beverage meets the Smart Snacks Guidelines, it can be sold anywhere and at anytime.
- If a food or beverage does not meet Smart Snack Guidelines, then it must be sold off school campus, sold on weekends, sold 30 minutes after the end of the official school day or replaced with a compliant product.
What do I need to do if I want to sell food/drinks during the school day?
- Determine when and where you want to sell food/beverages to students.
- Determine who will be selling the items
- Determine if your items meet Smart Snack guidelines. To help you do so, The Alliance for Healthier Generation has created a product calculator that helps you determine if your items meet guidelines.
- In Kansas each school organization recognized by the Board of Education may conduct one fundraiser per semester (with each fundraiser lasting no longer than two days) that does not meet the Smart Snacks standards. Receipts, nutrition labels, etc. are not required for these foods and beverages, but each school must maintain records that document when, where, and what was sold in the exempt fundraisers held at that site.
What records do I need to keep?
- It is Nutrition Services responsibility to maintain records, such as nutrition labels and product specifications for foods sold through Nutrition Services.
- It is the school's responsibility to maintain records, such as receipts, nutrition labels and tracking tools for foods sold on the school campus during the school day.
Can our school sell fundraiser foods not intended for consumption in schools?
- Yes. Sale of frozen pizza, cookie dough and other items preordered and distributed in a precooked state or bulk quantities for consumption at home is not required to meet the standards. Example: boxes of preordered Girl Scout Cookies intended for consumption at home.
Can our school conduct exempted fundraisers during the School Breakfast Program or National School Lunch Program?
- Exempted fundraisers may not be sold in competition with school meals in the food service area during meal service.
Can PTO, business sales or other adult organizations be granted exemptions to conduct fundraisers during the school day, on the school campus that do not meet Smart Snacks Requirements?
- USDA policy states that flexibility for exemptions is only for the purpose of conducting infrequent school-sponsored fundraisers during which foods that do not meet the nutrition standards for Smart Snacks may be sold. Only school-sponsored fundraisers may be granted an exemption.