School nutrition programs must follow federal, state and local procurement rules. Local procurement rules can differ among districts. School Nutrition Directors are the best source of information for determining the rules they must follow.

The United States Department of Agriculture sets standards for school nutrition programs. These standards include rules school nutrition programs must follow when purchasing local foods. Information on procuring local foods can be found on the USDA website.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction oversees school nutrition programs in North Carolina.  You can find information on school nutrition topics on the Office of School Nutrition website.

School cafeterias are subject to inspection by the local health department.  More information on these inspections can be found on the Division of Public Health website.