FNS Documents & Resources

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.

FNS is extending a waiver of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program meal pattern requirements to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID–19) this summer.

This memo is to announce extensions of needed flexibilities for summer 2021 operations for the Summer Food Service Program, the National School Lunch Program, and the NSLP Seamless Summer Option.

FNS waives, for all states, the requirements to serve meals that meet the meal pattern requirements during school year 2020-21. This waiver revises the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Child Nutrition Programs – Extension #4 granted on June 25, 2020, for all programs except the Summer Food Service Program. This waiver applies to state agencies administering, and local organizations operating, the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program.

FNS waives, for all states, the requirements to serve SFSP and NSLP Seamless Summer Option meals that meet the meal pattern requirements during the public health emergency due to COVID–19. This waiver extends the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Summer Food Service Program – Extension 7, granted on Aug. 31, 2020, that expires on Dec. 31, 2020.

This waiver extends the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Summer Food Service Program – Extension 6 - granted on Aug. 20, 2020, that expires on Sept. 30, 2020—through Dec. 31, 2020, in conjunction with the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option Operations through December 2020. 

Pursuant to Section 2202(a) of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and in light of the exceptional circumstances of this public health emergency,  FNS is extending a nationwide waiver to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus.

This waiver extends the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Child Nutrition Programs – Extension 3, granted on June 8, 2020, that expires July 31, 2020. This waiver extension applies to the NSLP, School Breakfast Program, and CACFP for school year 2020-21. As provided for in the June 8 extension, the waiver for the Summer Food Service Program remains in effect until July 31, 2020.

Pursuant to section 2202(a) of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and in light of the exceptional circumstances of this public health emergency, FNS is granting a nationwide waiver to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID–19). 

This instruction establishes the general standards and procedures that the state distributing agency, Indian Tribal Organization, or other consignee must follow in receiving shipments of USDA Foods, and conveys established responsibilities for other entities such as USDA Foods vendors and carriers.