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Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance | FNS-GD-2018-0001 Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs

The Food Buying Guide for child nutrition programs has all of the current information in one manual to help you and your purchasing agent buy the right amount of food and the appropriate type of food for your program(s), and determine the specific contribution each food makes toward the meal pattern requirements.

07/11/2022
Resource | Policy Memos CSFP: Revised Maximum Monthly Distribution Rates to Return to Full Vegetable Issuance

This memorandum provides return to the full issuance of eight units of vegetables or soup in CSFP food packages for May 2022 distributions and beyond.

04/19/2022
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0028 Commodity Supplemental Food Program: Guidance on Temporary Shortage of Ultra-High Temperature Fluid Milk

This memorandum is in regards to a temporary shortage of ultra-high temperature (UHT) fluid milk in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

03/19/2021
Resource | Policy Memos CSFP: Guidance on Temporary Food Package Issuance with Modified Quantities of Vegetables

This memorandum provides temporary issuance of CSFP food packages with less or no vegetables due to issues with vendors’ ability to supply canned vegetables.

02/26/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0107 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Offer Versus Serve Flexibilities in the Summer Food Service Program

During the public health emergency due to COVID-19, FNS waives, for all states, requirements that limit the use of Offer versus Serve to school food authorities and require sponsors to apply OVS under the rules followed for the National School Lunch Program.

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #16
07/02/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0097 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Offer Versus Serve Flexibility for Senior High Schools in the NSLP for SY 2020–21

FNS is establishing a nationwide waiver to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus for school year 2020-21.

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #37
06/25/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2018-0038 Summer Food Service Program Memoranda Rescission

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance for state agencies and program operators on the status of nationwide waivers of statutory and regulatory requirements in the Summer Food Service Program.

SFSP01-2019
10/11/2018
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2016-0094 Offer Versus Serve and Family Style Meals in the Child and Adult Care Food Program

This memorandum outlines the use of offer versus serve in the adult day care and at-risk afterschool settings in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the use of family style meals in the CACFP.

CACFP05-2017
12/09/2016
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2015-0033 Updated Offer vs Serve Guidance for the NSLP and SBP Beginning SY2015-16

Offer versus Serve is a provision in the NSLP and School Breakfast Program that allows students to decline some of the food offered. The goals of OVS are to reduce food waste in the school meals programs while permitting students to decline foods they do not intend to eat. 

SP41-2015
07/21/2015
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2015-0026 Voluntary Menu Labeling in the NSLP and SBP

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the final rule, Nutrition Labeling of Standard Menu Items in Restaurants and Similar Retail Food Establishments in the Federal Register (79 FR 71155) on Dec. 1, 2014.

05/19/2015
Page updated: October 14, 2021