FNS Documents & Resources

Recently, FNS has received a number of questions related to buying local meat, poultry, game, and eggs; this memorandum seeks to clarify the regulatory requirements related to food safety and answer specific questions related to these products with a series of questions and answers.

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will discontinue the requirement for vendors to use high security seals to secure USDA Foods deliveries as of July 1, 2023. 

This webinar included an overview of the demonstration project, and a detailed walk-through of requirements outlined in the recently published Federal Register notice.

These handouts provide general recommendations on handwashing, cleaning, and disinfecting, to operators of USDA Foods household programs including CSFP, TEFAP, and FDPIR. 

During this webinar, FNS reviewed the demonstration project, the information required in proposals, and answered questions. 

Through this rulemaking, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service  is codifying new and revised statutory requirements included in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 . First, the Department is revising the minimum Federal share of the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) administrative costs and State agency/Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) mandatory administrative match requirement amounts. Second, the Department is revising its administrative match waiver requirements by allowing State agencies and ITOs to qualify for a waiver if the required match share would be a substantial burden. Third, the Department is limiting the reduction of any FDPIR benefits or services to State agencies and ITOs that are granted a full or partial administrative match waiver. Last, the Department is allowing for other Federal funds, if such use is otherwise consistent with both the purpose of the other Federal funds and with the purpose of FDPIR administrative funds, to be used to meet the State agency/ITO administrative match requirement.

This memorandum provides information on the new provision in Section 4(b)(7) of the Food and Nutrition Act that requires FDPIR administrative funds to remain available for obligation at the Indian Tribal Organization and state agency level for a period of two federal fiscal years.

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.

Attached is the 2017 Edition of Accommodating Children with Disabilities in the School Meal Programs. This guide provides guidance on the requirement for school food authorities to ensure equal access to Program benefits for children with disabilities, which includes providing special meals to children with a disability that restricts their diet.

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.