Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Enhancing the School Food Safety Program


Nutrition Services Division Management Bulletin

Purpose: Policy, Action Required, Beneficial Information

To: School Nutrition Programs Sponsors

Number: USDA-SNP-15-2011

Attention: Food Service Directors

Date: December 2011

Subject: Enhancing the School Food Safety Program

Reference: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Policy Memo SP 37-2011

This Management Bulletin (MB) notifies School Nutrition Program sponsors of new U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements for all food safety programs (FSPs) operated in a school.  

This requirement pertains to participants of the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, and the Afterschool Care Programs.

Background

On December 13, 2010, President Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Act), reauthorizing the Child Nutrition Programs. Section 205 of the Act amended section 9(h)(5) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, by modifying requirements for school FSPs. It requires that school FSPs apply the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles not only to the cafeteria but also to any facility where food is stored, prepared, or served.

Requirements

Standard operating procedures in school FSPs must be updated to include any facility or part of a facility where food is stored, prepared, or served. The HACCP principles for food served in the cafeteria apply to all other facilities and can include, but are not limited to the following:

  • School buses
  • Hallways on school campuses
  • School courtyards
  • Kiosks
  • Classrooms
Implementation

These requirements have been effective since July 1, 2011.

If you have any questions, please contact Mia Bertacchi, Child Nutrition Assistant, Northern School Nutrition Program Unit (SNPU), by phone at 916-445-1261 or by e-mail at mbertacchi@cde.ca.gov, or Lori Porter, Child Nutrition Consultant, Southern SNPU, by phone at 916-322-1454 or by e-mail at lporter@cde.ca.gov.

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Related Content
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • Webinar-Expanded Geographic Preference (added 10-Jun-2024)
    This web page provides registration information on the webinar titled Partners Webinar on the Expanded Geographic Preference Option in the Final Rule, provided by the USDA’s Farm to School Team.
  • South American Meat Inc. Recalls Frozen Raw Beef (added 06-Jun-2024)
    South American Meat Inc., recalled approximately 20,111 pounds of various eligible frozen raw beef products that were not presented to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service for import reinspection.
  • Farm to Summer Celebration Week 2024- Reminder (added 04-Jun-2024)
    The F2Summer Celebration Week is a recognition program for summer meal program operators that complete three elements: 1) Taste, 2) Teach, and 3) Connect during the designated week of June 17–21, 2024.
  • Summer EBT 2024 Plan of Operations and Timeline (added 04-Jun-2024)
    Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT) 2024 Plan of Operations and Management has officially been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service and the customer service helpline for households has been released.
  • April 23, 2024 Tuesday at 2 Town Hall Resources (added 03-Jun-2024)
    The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division hosted the monthly Tuesday @ 2 School Nutrition Town Hall webinar April 23, 2024.