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ensure accuracy. School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy
Children as reported from survey data from SFAs for the school
year 2005–2006. Food prices have changed since that time (see
the section “Changes in Food Prices” later in this chapter).
These price changes certainly affect the level of costs reported
above. Importantly, changes in the relative importance of food
items that occur through the menu modifications also affect the
estimated changes in food costs and hence the committee’s
estimates of the percentage changes. The effect of changes in
food prices is discussed in the next section. OTHER FACTORS
AFFECTING MEAL COSTS Many factors affect the price of school
meals. Some directly affect the cost of food. Others relate to
the food service operation. Several of these factors are
discussed briefly below. Other Factors Affe