This memorandum seeks to ensure that current Food and Nutrition Service guidance pertaining to federal civil rights and nondiscrimination obligations remains aligned with applicable laws, regulations, executive orders and directives relevant to the agency’s 16 nutrition assistance programs.

This infographic highlights how meals and snacks served as part of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) can provide children with the nutrition they need to learn, grow, and play.

This instruction establishes the general USDA Foods guidance for standards and procedures that the state distributing agency, Indian Tribal Organization, or other consignee must follow in receiving shipments of USDA Foods, and conveys established responsibilities for other entities such as USDA Foods vendors and carriers.

This instruction promulgates program policy and provides guidance on the supplemental foods authorized for distribution in the CSFP food package. It specifies the maximum allowable rates of distribution for the supplemental foods in each package.

CACFP funds are provided to assist State agencies through grants and other means to initiate and maintain nonprofit food service Programs for eligible children and adult participants in nonresidential institutions that provide care. This Instruction establishes program standards, principles and guidelines for financial management.

This instruction is intended to clarify allowable variations to child nutrition program food components in order to meet religious needs among Jewish schools, institutions and sponsors. 

This Instruction sets forth the criteria to be used to determine acceptable grains/breads, the criteria to be used to determine equivalent minimum serving sizes, and examples of foods that qualify as grains/breads for meals served under the food-based menu planning alternatives in all child nutrition programs

This Instruction outlines the policy for food substitutions and other modifications in the meal patterns necessary to meet the dietary requirements of program participants with handicaps and with other special dietary needs.

 The purpose of this FNS Instruction is to provide guidance regarding the number of applications that must be reviewed by state agencies conducting verification of eligibility for free and reduced price meals under the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

CACFP has long been recognized for its nutritional goals of providing nutritious meals to children and helping them establish good eating habits at a young age. Family style meal service provides a further opportunity to enhance these goals by encouraging a pleasant eating environment that will support and promote mealtime as a learning experience.