FNS Documents & Resources

This memo clarifies how the food safety inspection requirement is to be carried out by program operators on military bases, Indian reservations and Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCIs).

FNS is revising the regulations governing procedures related to the procurement of goods and services in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and Special Milk Program to remedy deficiencies identified in audits and program reviews.

It has come to our attention that there may be some confusion concerning fluid milk, and how it is offered in reimbursable lunches. Under all menu planning approaches, fluid milk is a separate food component/menu item.

We have received numerous inquiries in the past several weeks concerning a document produced by the Harrison Institute for Public Law at Georgetown University addressing the purchase of products from local farmers. The document expresses the view that Congress, as part of the 2002 Farm Bill, expressed clear support for geographic preferences in purchases made for school food service programs.

The Food and Nutrition Service, Food Distribution Division, will hold a meeting to discuss methods of value-pass-through of USDA donated commodities in food service management company fixed-rate-per- meal contracts in the National School Lunch Program. The purpose of this meeting is to offer state agencies, school food authorities, advocacy groups, food service management companies, and other interested parties the opportunity for dialogue prior to proposed rulemaking.

This rule proposes to amend the reporting and recordkeeping requirements under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Special Milk Program relating to the verification of free and reduced price meal applications.

This notice announces the annual adjustments to: The "national average payments,'' the amount of money the Federal Government provides states for lunches, afterschool snacks and breakfasts served to children participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs; the "maximum reimbursement rates,'' the maximum per lunch rate from Federal funds that a state can provide a school food authority for lunches served to children participating in the National School Lunch Program; and the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint of milk served to non-needy children in a school or institution which participates in the Special Milk Program for Children.

The Food and Nutrition Service is issuing final regulations amending the meal pattern for infants less than 12 months of age in the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

The No Child Left Behind Act contains a number of changes that affect the Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers. This memo contains those changes that are pertinent to the child nutrition programs.