FNS Documents & Resources

On Dec. 20, 2018, Congress passed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334, 2018 Farm Bill). The purpose of this memorandum is to notify Child Nutrition Program operators of the 2018 Farm Bill’s expansion of the provision stating that certain groups are not liable in civil cases regarding the donation and service of traditional foods. This provision only applies to food service programs at public and nonprofit facilities that primarily serve Indians, including those operated by Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations.

This memorandum, SP20 CACFP07 SFSP06-2019, notifies all child nutrition program state agencies and program operators of guidance the Food and Nutrition Service received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), OMB M-18-18, authorizing increases to the value of the micro-purchase and simplified acquisition thresholds. The changes apply to all child nutrition programs and implement an approval process for certain state agencies and program operators that want to request micro-purchase thresholds higher than $10,000.

This memorandum provides guidance on crediting tempeh in the child nutrition programs (CNPs), including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. Tempeh is a highly nutritious fermented soybean cake traditionally made from whole soybeans. Although mature beans have traditionally been credited as a meat alternate in the CNPs, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has not previously issued guidance on crediting tempeh. Based on stakeholder feedback, FNS is updating CNP food crediting guidance to explain how to credit tempeh as a meat alternate.

This memorandum provides guidance on crediting surimi seafood in the child nutrition programs (CNPs), including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Surimi seafood is a pasteurized, ready-to-eat, restructured seafood usually made from pollock (fish). Previously, surimi seafood did not meet the requirement for any component in the meal patterns, but could be served as an “extra” food. Based on stakeholder feedback, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is updating food-crediting guidance to allow surimi seafood to credit as a meat/meat alternate in the CNPs.

This memorandum provides guidance on crediting coconut, hominy, corn masa, corn flour, and cornmeal in the child nutrition programs (CNPs), including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. Previously, coconut and hominy did not meet the requirement for any component in the meal patterns, but could be served as an “extra” food. Based on stakeholder feedback, and to meet the growing and diverse cultural needs of our program participants, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is updating food-crediting guidance to allow coconut and hominy to credit in the CNPs. Additionally, FNS is updating the guidance on corn masa, corn flour, and cornmeal to simplify menu planning. 

With the issuance of this memorandum, FNS is rescinding SP02-2013:Corn Masa (Dough) for Use in Tortilla Chips, Taco Shells, and Tamales, October 3, 2012.

This memorandum expands flexibility for crediting vegetables in the child nutrition programs (CNPs), including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). In December 2017, FNS solicited comments on the CNP crediting system through a Request for Information (RFI). FNS sought public input about specific foods, including if it is appropriate to require visual recognition when determining how foods credit in the CNPs. At the time of the public comment, program operators could credit pasta made with vegetable flour only if it was served along with a recognizable vegetable. For example, bean pasta could credit as a vegetable if it was served with additional beans.

This memorandum provides guidance on crediting popcorn in the child nutrition programs (CNPs), including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Previously, popcorn could not contribute to any component in the meal patterns, but could be served as an “extra” food. Based on stakeholder feedback, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is updating CNP food crediting guidance to allow popcorn to credit as a whole grain.

This memorandum is intended to clarify that shelf-stable, dried, and semi-dried meat, poultry, and seafood, such as beef jerky or summer sausage, are now creditable as meat in the child nutrition programs (CNPs). These items were creditable as of December 4, 2018, when the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published SP 08-2019, CACFP 02-2019, SFSP 02-2019: Update of Food Crediting in the Child Nutrition Programs.

This memorandum is the first in a series of guidance memoranda to support state agencies administering the child nutrition programs as they enhance or build Information Technology (IT) solutions for their state agency operations. The memorandum discusses the evaluation of a state’s current IT solution, factors to consider when selecting an IT solution, and available IT solution options. The guidance series will provide state agencies with best practices and practical direction on child nutrition IT system planning, procurement, project management, data ownership and intellectual property, and testing.

This memorandum informs stakeholders on the progress made by the Food and Nutrition Service in updating the food crediting system for all child nutrition programs (CNP), including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. This is a first step by FNS towards improving the CNP crediting system to best address today’s evolving food and nutrition environment and meet the needs of those operating and benefiting from the CNPs.