Urban School Food Alliance Completes Pioneering NAE Chicken Pilot, Enhancing School Nutrition Nationwide

Final digital recap available, showcasing the delivery of 955,550 pounds of No Antibiotic Ever chicken to schools.

Washington D.C. – May 14, 2025 – The Urban School Food Alliance (USFA), a coalition of School Nutrition Professionals dedicated to championing high-quality, nutritious meals to students in urban school districts, has successfully concluded its groundbreaking No Antibiotic Ever (NAE) Chicken Pilot. Running from 2021 through 2024, this initiative focused on sourcing and distributing chicken raised without antibiotics, addressing concerns about antibiotic resistance and promoting student health.

USFA proudly announces the release of “Boost the Roost” – an extensive digital recap for the NAE Chicken Pilot, available online. This resource offers a deep dive into the project through videos, interviews with school district members, USFA staff, project partners, and medical professionals, alongside articles, quotes, and a detailed project timeline. It also includes thoughts on the future of NAE in schools complete with an exclusive interview with The Life Time Foundation, a key partner, highlighting the collaborative efforts behind the pilot’s success.

A major milestone of the project was the delivery of 955,550 pounds of NAE chicken to school districts nationwide. This achievement provided students with healthier protein options and established a case study for large-scale procurement of antibiotic-free products in educational settings.

The Boost the Roost NAE Chicken Pilot unfolded across four key phases:

• Research & Discovery: Embracing Transformational Procurement – It’s about more than just developing a product, it was challenging and redefining school nutrition purchasing.
• Product Launch: The procurement, purchasing, and delivery of nearly 1 million pounds of clean label, No Antibiotic Ever chicken.
• Results & Successes: Measuring the initiative’s impact and outcomes.
• Looking Ahead: The Alliance’s plan to stay collectively committed to NAE and clean-label products for schools across the country.

Dr. Katie Wilson, SNS, Executive Director of USFA, stated, “Through innovation, collaboration, and determination, we proved that a new approach to procurement was possible.” Jill Kidd, MS, RD, SNS, Director of Procurement and Business Innovation Initiatives for USFA, added, “The pilot successfully tested the systems and processes to leverage the collective buying power of School Nutrition Programs and attracted the interest of the industry.” Manish P. Singh, Director of Food Services Division at Los Angeles Unified School District, emphasized, “We want a better product. We want kids to get better food. This is all part of the initiative.”

The digital recap also provides a practical resource list for districts interested in sourcing NAE chicken, empowering others to adopt similar practices.

USFA invites school districts, food service professionals, and stakeholders to explore the digital recap and discover how this pilot pioneered a healthier future for school meals. Learn why NAE chicken in schools is both important and achievable—and gain confidence to take the next step toward implementing it in your district.

Visit https://bit.ly/USFABoostTheRoost to access the full digital recap and join the movement for healthier school nutrition.

You can also learn more about Boost The Roost on our website.

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