Cherokee Nation
Good News! SUN Bucks is Available in Your Location
- Website: Summer EBT Program
- Hotline: 539-234-3265 or 800-256-0671 ext. 5275
- Email: wicsebtc@cherokee.org
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The child nutrition (CN) labeling program is a voluntary federal labeling program for child nutrition programs (CNP). The CN label on a product communicates how the product contributes to CNP meal pattern requirements. CN labeled products provide CNP operators with a warranty against audit claims when the product is prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) manages much of the child nutrition (CN) labeling program in collaboration with three other federal agencies:
The program requires an evaluation of a product's formulation to determine its contribution toward CNP meal patterns requirements. It allows manufacturers to state this contribution on their labels. The existence of a CN label on a product provides CNP operators with a guarantee that the product contributes to the meal pattern requirements as printed on the product label.
Main dish products that contribute to the meats/meat alternates component of the meal pattern requirements are eligible for a CN label. Examples of these products include but are not limited to beef patties, cheese or meat pizzas, meat or cheese and bean burritos, egg rolls, and breaded fish portions.
Products served in child nutrition programs are not federally required to have a CN label. The decision to procure CN labeled products is made at the state and/or local level. If a CN labeled product is desired, CNP operators must clearly state this in their purchasing specifications
You will find CN labels on the product’s package, and most often, on foods purchased through a large food distributor. Items purchased in grocery stores generally do not include a CN label, and not all commercially prepared combination food items will have one. The CN labeling office does not provide copies of the CN label.
Manufacturers must be under federal or equal-to-federal inspection, have an approved quality control program for the CN labeling program, and have a product that contributes at least 0.50 oz. equivalent meat/meat alternate per serving. Refer to the Child Nutrition Labeling Manual for step-by-step guidance on applying for CN label approval. Questions regarding the CN labeling program should be submitted to CNLabeling@usda.gov.
No. While a CN labeled product is guaranteed to contain a certain quantity of food, it does not indicate that the quality of the food, including food safety aspects, is any different than a non-CN labeled food.
Costs should be similar. Cost comparison between two meat products should be based on the cost per ounce (or pound) that contributes to the meal pattern requirements, not on the product cost per ounce (or pound). Please refer to the Notice to the Trade: Fee for Child Nutrition Labeling Review and Approvals and the Memorandum of Understanding for information regarding program fees.
In addition to required labeling features, a CN label will always contain the following:
Sample label statement:
Child Nutrition Labeling Program Operations Office
E-mail: CNLabeling@usda.gov
Phone: (202) 720-9939