Only 524 schools out of around 100,000 across the United States have dropped out of the National School Lunch Program since the imposition of stricter and healthier nutrition standards 12 months ago.

The Obama Administration last year imposed new meal standards that require schools subsidised by the program to offer more fruit, vegetables, whole grains, less salty and fatty foods and low-fat milk to children.

The program, which was introduced in 1946, costs the US Government more than $US11 billion a year.

The US Department of Agriculture said only 0.15% of schools have dropped out of the program due to the stricter meal standards. It said most of the schools that dropped out did so for other reasons such as closures, moves or compliance and training issues.

The USDA said 80.1% of schools had already complied with the new standards.