On April 25, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The 2024 final rule included an optional provision that continues to allow the substitution of vegetables for fruits at breakfast and provides schools with greater menu planning flexibility at breakfast as compared to the previous regulations. This memorandum provides updated guidance on the substitution of vegetables for fruits in the School Breakfast Program.
On April 25, 2024, FNS published the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The rule finalized practical, science-based, long-term school nutrition requirements based on the goals of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, extensive partner input, and lessons learned from prior rulemakings. This memorandum updates and clarifies current guidance for fluid milk requirements in school meal programs following publication of the 2024 final rule.
This guidance is intended to assist state agencies and program operators of the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program in meeting the longstanding federal requirement to collect race and ethnicity data of program participants.
FNS is publishing a 30-Day Notice for this final rule submission because the agency changed how the requirements and burden changes were submitted for approval in the final rule from what was used in the proposed rule
FNS is publishing a 30-Day Notice for this final rule submission because the agency changed how the requirements and burden changes were submitted for approval in the final rule from what was used in the proposed rule
FNS is publishing a 30-Day Notice for this final rule submission because the agency changed how the requirements and burden changes were submitted for approval in the final rule from what was used in the proposed rule
FNS is publishing a 30-Day Notice for this final rule submission because the agency changed how the requirements and burden changes were submitted for approval in the final rule from what was used in the proposed rule
The updated survey will collect timely data on policy, administrative, and operational issues for the CN programs.
The Child Nutrition rule, “Child Nutrition Programs: Community Eligibility Provision—Increasing Options for Schools” amends the regulations associated with the School Meals Program, which consists of the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.
This notice announces the annual adjustments to the national average payments, the amount of money the federal government provides states for lunches, afterschool snacks, and breakfasts served to children participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs; to the maximum reimbursement rates, the maximum per lunch rate from federal funds that a state can provide a school food authority for lunches served to children participating in the National School Lunch Program; and to the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint of milk served to non-needy children in a school or institution that participates in the Special Milk Program for Children.