Price of school lunch to increase Published Dec. 8, 2011 ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Starting Jan. 3, 2012, school lunch prices at the 48th Fighter Wing and all other schools outside the continental U.S. will increase. On Nov. 10, 2011, the military services approved an increase in the price of school lunches at the Department of Defense Education Activity schools in order to keep pace with increasing operational costs and comply with The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (Public Law 111-296). The act requires participants in the U.S. Department of Agriculture meal program to raise paid student lunch prices to a level comparable to the state subsidy rate used for USDA reimbursement. "As the designated School Food Authority, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service provides school meals on a non-profit, break even basis," explained U.S. Army Lt. Col. Thomas Shrader, an Exchange spokesman. "In order to keep pace with increasing food and operational costs, and to be compliant with this new law, school lunch prices will increase for the first time in seven years." The last price increase was 10 cents per meal in 2004. The new increase is 35 cents per full price meal making the new prices $2.40 for elementary students and $2.55 for secondary students. Families qualifying for the Free and Reduced Meal Program will not be impacted by the meal cost increases. The cost of a reduced-price meal will remain unchanged at 40 cents per meal. The DoD School Meal Program meets the same USDA guidelines as stateside schools by providing all of the important nutrients children need to be successful in school and healthy in the future. For more information on free and reduced meal eligibility requirements, contact the installation School Liaison Officer at 226-5077/5078. For more information on the School Meal Program, visit www.shopmyexchange.com.