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Resource | Infographics How We Got Here: School Nutrition Standards Final Rule

School nutrition professionals continue to make school meals the healthiest meals children eat in a day! To take school meals to the next level, USDA is updating the school nutrition standards after considering recommendations from the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans and listening to a diverse range of voices with experience in child nutrition and health.

04/24/2024
Resource | Policy Memos Meal Requirements Under the NSLP & SBP: Q&A for Program Operators Updated to Support the Transitional Standards Effective July 1, 2022

These questions and answers provide guidance for recently published transitional standards for milk, whole grains and sodium.

SP 05-2022
03/02/2022
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0065 Reimbursement for Meals and Snacks Served to Young Adults in the CACFP - Q&A's

This memorandum includes questions and answers to provide clarification to state agencies, emergency shelters, and emergency shelters that operate at-risk after school care centers regarding meals and snacks served to young adults in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

CACFP 12-2021
06/08/2021
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 | Technical Assistance & Guidance | FNS-GD-2020-0128 Administrative Review Guidance and Tools

The National School Lunch Program regulations at § 210.18   Administrative reviews specify the requirements for conducting Administrative Reviews. The documents on this page include the Administrative Review Manual and other documents and tools available for conducting these compliance reviews.

07/15/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0074 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility - Extension 2

FNS is extending a nationwide waiver to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID–19). This extension of Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility in the child nutrition programs, issued March 25, 2020, applies to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program. This waiver remains in effect until June 30, 2020.

COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #24
05/21/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0047 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility - Extension

FNS is extending a nationwide waiver to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus. This extension  applies to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program.

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #13
04/21/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0005 School Breakfast Program: Continuation of the Substitution of Vegetables for Fruit Flexibility

School food authorities participating in the School Breakfast Program may continue to credit any vegetable offered, including potatoes and other starchy vegetables, in place of fruit without including vegetables from other subgroups in the weekly menus, through June 30, 2021.

SP06-2020
01/22/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0078 Updated School Meal Guidance

FNS is issuing a suite of memoranda providing updated guidance for operators in the child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program.

SP36-2019
09/23/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0077 Salad Bars in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program

This memorandum supersedes policy memo SP 31-2013, “Salad Bars in the National School Lunch Program,” dated March 27, 2013. This revision includes policy changes and general updates to outdated resources/website links and updated questions and answers.

SP41-2019
09/23/2019
Page updated: October 14, 2021