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Resource | Technical Assistance FAQs for Suppliers and Manufacturers Publishing Data for the Child Nutrition Database

Frequently asked questions and answers for suppliers and manufacturers publishing data for the Child Nutrition Database.

07/01/2025
Resource | FAQs/Q&As Questions and Answers on Alternate Protein Products

The term "Alternate Protein Product" is the name used by FNS to identify products meeting requirements set forth in Appendix A of the NSLP, SBP, SFSP, and the CACFP within the section entitled Alternate Protein Products.

10/04/2022
Resource | Policy Memos Child Nutrition Emergency Operational Costs Reimbursement Programs: Q&As #3

This memorandum applies to state agencies administering the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program. This document details further instructions and administrative procedures for participation in the reimbursement program established in Sec. 722 of the Act, which makes funding available via state agencies to program operators for the purposes of covering emergency operating costs incurred during the public health emergency

08/11/2021
Resource | Policy Questions & Answers Regarding Professional Standards for State and Local School Nutrition Program Personnel

This Q&A memorandum is designed to provide an overview of the policies related to the Professional Standards regulations for state and local school nutrition program personnel. 

01/14/2020
Resource | Policy Memos Crediting Coconut, Hominy, Corn Masa and Masa Harina in the Child Nutrition Programs

This memorandum rescinds and replaces SP 22-2019, CACFP 09-2019, SFSP 08-2019 Crediting Coconut, Hominy, Corn Masa, and Corn Flour in the Child Nutrition Programs. This updated memorandum provides guidance on crediting coconut (including dried coconut), hominy, corn masa, and masa harina and clarifies how to identify popular products made from corn that can credit towards the grain requirements in the child nutrition programs, including the NSLP, SBP, CACFP and SFSP.

08/22/2019
Resource | Policy Memos Demonstration Project for Non-Congregate Feeding for Outdoor Summer Meal Sites Experiencing Excessive Heat with Q&As

FNS is continuing the 2018 demonstration project allowing non-congregate feeding at certain outdoor summer meal sites experiencing excessive heat for summer 2019, to develop and test alternative methods of providing access to summer meals for low-income children.

05/29/2019
Resource | Policy National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Questions and Answers for Charter Schools

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) along with other child nutrition programs (CNPs) administered by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) make it possible for schools to serve wholesome and appealing meals to students each day.

11/14/2018
Resource | Policy Reducing School Meal Certification Error through Improved Online Application Design

This memorandum provides guidance to states, local operators, and their software vendors on strategies for leveraging the design flexibilities of online free and reduced price school meal applications to reduce household reporting mistakes and certification errors.

03/05/2018
Resource | Policy Memos Eligibility Manual for School Meals

The manual provides comprehensive information on federal requirements, policies, and procedures, and is intended to help state agencies and local educational agencies accurately determine, certify, and verify children’s eligibility for free and reduced price school meals and free milk.

07/05/2017
Resource | Guidance Documents Accommodating Disabilities in the School Meal Programs: Guidance and Q&As

This question and answer memorandum is designed to provide practical guidance related to accommodating disabilities in the school meal programs, which are the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, the Special Milk Program, and the NSLP Afterschool Snacks Program.

04/25/2017
Page updated: October 14, 2021