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PART 210—National School Lunch Program

Resource type
Regulations

Section 2 of the National School Lunch Act (42 USC 1751), states: “It is declared to be the policy of Congress, as a measure of national security, to safeguard the health and well-being of the nation's children and to encourage the domestic consumption of nutritious agricultural commodities and other food, by assisting the states, through grants-in-aid and other means, in providing an adequate supply of food and other facilities for the establishment, maintenance, operation, and expansion of nonprofit school lunch programs.” Pursuant to this act, the Department provides states with general and special cash assistance and donations of foods acquired by the Department to be used to assist schools in serving nutritious lunches to children each school day. In furtherance of Program objectives, participating schools shall serve lunches that are nutritionally adequate, as set forth in these regulations, and shall to the extent practicable, ensure that participating children gain a full understanding of the relationship between proper eating and good health.

This part sets forth the requirements for participation in the National School Lunch and Commodity School Programs. It specifies Program responsibilities of state and local officials in the areas of program administration, preparation and service of nutritious lunches, the sale of competitive foods, payment of funds, use of program funds, program monitoring, and reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Subpart A—General

§ 210.1   General purpose and scope.
§ 210.2   Definitions.
§ 210.3   Administration.

Subpart B—Reimbursement Process for States and School Food Authorities

§ 210.4   Cash and donated food assistance to states.
§ 210.5   Payment process to states.
§ 210.6   Use of Federal funds.
§ 210.7   Reimbursement for school food authorities.
§ 210.8   Claims for reimbursement.

Subpart C—Requirements for School Food Authority Participation

§ 210.9   Agreement with state agency.
§ 210.10   Meal requirements for lunches and requirements for afterschool snacks.
§ 210.11   Competitive food service and standards.
§ 210.12   Student, parent, and community involvement.
§ 210.13   Facilities management.
§ 210.14   Resource management.
§ 210.15   Reporting and recordkeeping.
§ 210.16   Food service management companies.

Subpart D—Requirements for State Agency Participation

§ 210.17   Matching Federal funds.
§ 210.18   Administrative reviews.
§ 210.19   Additional responsibilities.
§ 210.20   Reporting and recordkeeping.

Subpart E—State Agency and School Food Authority Responsibilities

§ 210.21   Procurement.
§ 210.22   Audits.
§ 210.23   Other responsibilities.

Subpart F—Additional Provisions

§ 210.24   Withholding payments.
§ 210.25   Suspension, termination and grant closeout procedures.
§ 210.26   Penalties.
§ 210.27   Educational prohibitions.
§ 210.28   Pilot project exemptions.
§ 210.29   Management evaluations.
§ 210.30   School nutrition program professional standards.
§ 210.31   Local school wellness policy.
§ 210.32   State agency and regional office addresses.
§ 210.33   OMB control numbers.

Appendix A to Part 210—Alternate Foods for Meals
Appendix B to Part 210 [Reserved]
Appendix C to Part 210—Child Nutrition Labeling Program

Page updated: December 28, 2022