FNS Documents & Resources

Section 4 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act provides general cash for food assistance payments to states to assist schools in purchasing food. The NSLA provides two different section 4 payment levels for lunches served under the NSLP.

This memorandum clarifies how school food authorities may use funds provided under Sections 4 and 11 or 19 of the National School Lunch Act to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program vendors.

FNS recently released the new Administrative Review Guidance Manual, which includes four options that state agencies may use to assess compliance with Dietary Specifications – calories, saturated fat, and sodium – requirements. 

This memorandum and its attachment supersede SP-37-2011, Child Nutrition 2010: Enhancing the School Food Safety Program. Attached are questions and answers regarding the school food safety requirements for schools participating in FNS child nutrition programs.

This memo is written in response to a number of concerns brought to our attention by state agencies regarding school food authorities in contracts with food service management companies that allow the FSMC to charge a fixed fee to the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides all children in participating schools with a variety of free fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the school day.  It is an effective and creative way of introducing fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options. 

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010  clarifies requirements for participation in evaluations and research in the child nutrition programs. The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance on the implementation of this provision

In response to several inquiries, this memorandum provides guidance on the allowable consumption of FFVP fruits and vegetables by teachers.

The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify that SAE funds may be used for state administration of the FFVP, as well as to explain how the FFVP administrative funds provided under Section 19 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, 42 USC 1769a, may be used.

This memorandum provides clarification on the statutory requirements for selecting schools and reiterates information from the Sept. 29, 2009 FFVP webinar on the targeting and outreach process that states must conduct in order to select schools.