The FNS Food Safety division develops education, instruction and technical assistance resources for individuals working in federally funded nutrition assistance programs such as the NSLP, SBP, CACFP, and SFSP. Many of these resources are created in partnership with the Institute of Child Nutrition.
A set of three handouts on best practices to help you safely handle and store USDA foods at home.
This memorandum is meant to provide clarification and guidance on policies and procedures for donated food storage and distribution as they relate to product dating.
Washing Produce - Part of a five-video series, available in English and Spanish, offers “tricks of the trade” to help food service operators keep produce safe and at a high quality.
Temperature Readings - Part of a five-video series, available in English and Spanish, offers “tricks of the trade” to help food service operators keep produce safe and at a high quality.
Storage Temperatures - Part of a five-video series, available in English and Spanish, offers “tricks of the trade” to help food service operators keep produce safe and at a high quality.
Ethylene Gas - Part of a five-video series, available in English and Spanish, offers “tricks of the trade” to help food service operators keep produce safe and at a high quality.
Ready-to-eat - Part of a five-video series, available in English and Spanish, offers “tricks of the trade” to help food service operators keep produce safe and at a high quality.
English and Spanish versions of, "The Food Allergy Book: What School Employees Need to Know". Written by NEA Healthy Futures, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the National Education Association.
The Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program allows schools to use their USDA Foods entitlement dollars to buy fresh produce. The program, operated by DoD’s Defense Logistics Agency, began in SY 1994-95 as a pilot in eight states. As of 2013, schools in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam participate; schools are anticipated to receive more than $100 million worth of produce through the program during SY 2012-13.