In the Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act of 1994, Congress directed the Government Accounting Office (GAO) to examine the use of private food establishments and caterers by schools participating in federal programs for school meals. In conducting its review, the GAO relied primarily on questionnaires returned by food authorities that had contracts with food service companies during the 1994-95 school year. Specific areas addressed included: (1) the extent to which schools use private companies to operate their lunch program and the impacts that the use of these companies has on the National School Lunch Program; (2) terms and conditions in contracts between schools and food service companies; and (3) extent to which fast foods and vending machines are available in schools and the types, brands, and nutritional content of the fast foods offered. This report details the GAO's findings. Chapter 1 of the report provides an introduction to the National School Lunch program, food service management companies, and "fast foods." Chapter 2 addresses the finding that the use of food service companies to manage school food services is increasing. Chapter 3 addresses the finding that food service contracts vary in content and in compliance with selected federal requirements. Chapter 4 addresses the finding that the percentage of schools offering brand-name fast foods has increased. Four appendices include the survey methodology, federal lunch pattern requirements, nutritional content of four brand-name fast food items, and major contributors to the report. Twenty-eight tables and figures augment the research findings. (SD)