FNS Documents & Resources

This memorandum implements requirements under Section 4018 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and provides guidance to TEFAP state agencies on best practices to minimize food waste of privately donated foods provided to TEFAP state agencies and eligible recipient agencies. 

This memorandum provides guidance regarding continuation of the food safety inspections reporting requirement under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs for fiscal year (FY) 2019. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019, (P.L. 116-6) contains language that amended section 9(h)(3) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA), 42 USC 1758(h)(3), to require the state agency’s food safety inspections reporting requirement for FY 2019. State agencies must report to the Food and Nutrition Service the number of annual food safety inspections obtained by schools under their jurisdiction for school year 2018-2019. Please submit the report by November 15, 2019, to: NSLPFoodSafetyInspections@fns.usda.gov.

The FNS Office of Food Safety develops education, instruction and technical assistance resources for individuals working in federally funded nutrition assistance programs such as the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. Many of these resources are created in partnership with the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN).This page contains links to these resources and other food safety resources that may be helpful to school nutrition and child care employees.

This document provides an overview of basic food safety enforcement terminology used by FSIS that may impact school distributing agencies, school food authorities, and processors of USDA-regulated foods, including meat, poultry, and egg products.

Infographic for food safety in schools.

This resource provides a checklist of the communication responsibilities related to recalls of USDA Foods before, during and after a recall.

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.

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.