Q&As on the Final Rule Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements

This memo has been superseded by the March 2, 2022 memo, SP 04-2022, CACFP 04-2022, Question and Answer Guidance on the Final Rule Child Nutrition Programs: Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Effective July 1, 2022.

Attached are Questions and Answers (QAs) on the final rule Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements (83 FR 63775, Dec. 12, 2018), which provides menu planning flexibilities in the child nutrition programs beginning July 1, 2019. The QAs address the following key provisions of the final rule:

Flavored Milk

The rule allows schools in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs to offer flavored, low-fat (1 percent) milk at lunch and breakfast and as a beverage for sale a la carte, without the need to demonstrate operational hardship, and requires that unflavored milk (fat-free or low-fat) be available at each school meal service. For consistency across programs, the rule extends the milk flexibility to the Special Milk Program for children and to the Child and Adult Care Food Program for children ages six and older and adult participants.

Whole Grains

The rule requires that half of the weekly grains in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs be whole grain-rich; the remaining weekly grains offered must be enriched.

Sodium Reduction Timeline

The rule retains sodium target one through school year 2023-2024, moves target two to school year 2024-2025, and removes the final target in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.

State agencies are reminded to distribute this memorandum to program operators. Program operators should direct any questions concerning this guidance to their state agency. State agencies with questions should contact the appropriate FNS regional office.

Angela M. Kline
Director
Policy and Program Development Division

Attachment

• Questions and Answers