Perceptions and Experiences of Universal School Meals in California: Qualitative Insights From School Food Authorities on Participation, Stigma, and Operational Benefits and Challenges.

Background: Universal school meals (USM) aim to eliminate barriers to school meal access by providing free meals to all students regardless of family income. During the COVID-19 pandemic, US Department of Agriculture waivers allowed schools nationwide to offer meals free of charge to all students. Although USM have demonstrated positive effects on student health and participation, limited research has focused on the perspectives of the foodservice directors (FSDs) who manage them.

Objective: The study aimed to explore the operational benefits and challenges encountered by FSDs, and their perceptions of the benefits of USM for students and parents during the implementation of USM during the 2021-2022 school year.

Design: This was a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.

Participants/setting: Twenty-nine California FSDs selected through purposive sampling to ensure diversity in district size, urbanicity, and student eligibility for free or reduced-price meals participated. Interviews were conducted via Zoom in Spring 2022.

Analysis: Thematic analysis was performed with an immersion-crystallization approach.

Results: FSDs perceived multiple benefits of USM, including increased meal participation, reduced stigma around free meals, and strong support for USM from parents and school communities. They believed consistent access to meals improved learning readiness and behavior. Operationally, FSDs reported increased administrative efficiency and the elimination of student meal debt. However, higher meal demand led to increased workloads, compounded by staffing shortages, challenges in hiring and retention, and supply issues exacerbated by the pandemic. California's Kitchen Infrastructure and Training grants supported equipment upgrades. Despite challenges, FSDs were optimistic about the future of USM and expressed a strong desire for its continuation.

Conclusions: FSDs perceived USM as beneficial for improving meal access, reducing stigma, and enhancing administrative efficiency. However, sustaining these benefits requires addressing operational challenges through targeted support and investments. Future research should assess the long-term viability of USM and strategies for overcoming challenges outside the pandemic context.