Nutrition Services Division Management Bulletin |
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| Purpose: Policy, Beneficial Information | |
To: Food Distribution Program Recipient Agencies |
Number: USDA-FDP-09-2012 |
Attention: Food Service Directors |
Date: October 2012 |
Subject: Frozen Fruit Products and Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs |
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Reference: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service Policy Memo SP 20-2012-Revised—Frozen Fruit Products and Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/governance/policy.htm |
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| Supersedes: Management Bulletin USDA-FDP-04-2012 dated March 2012 | |
This Management Bulletin (MB) notifies Food Distribution Program (FDP) Recipient Agencies (RA) that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently revised Policy Memo SP 20-2012 on Frozen Fruit Products and Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program.
On January 26, 2012, the USDA published the final rule, which requires that frozen fruit served in the NSLP contain no added sugar beginning in School Year (SY) 2012–13. Since 2009, the USDA has reduced the amount of added sugars in packing media for frozen fruits offered to states, though most of the frozen strawberries, peaches, and apricots currently offered by the USDA contain added sugars.
The new regulation allows for a water (unsweetened) or juice-only frozen fruit pack. However, to provide RAs with time to use existing inventories and to recognize the time needed for industry to reformulate and to pack new frozen fruit products, schools may continue to serve frozen fruit with added sugar in the NSLP through SY 2013–14.
This exemption applies to products acquired through the FDP as well as those purchased commercially and has been extended from SY 2012–13 through SY 2013–14. Beginning July 1, 2014, all frozen fruit served in the NSLP must not contain added sugars.
The USDA currently offers unsweetened frozen fruits and encourages RAs to order those products. Additionally, the USDA is working with the industry to ensure that all frozen fruits offered through USDA Foods will be unsweetened or juice pack products and will be available for RAs to order for SY 2014–15.
If you have any questions regarding this MB, please contact Amy Bell, Child Nutrition Consultant, by phone at 916-322-5051or 800-952-5609, or by e-mail at abell@cde.ca.gov; or Sherry Tam, Child Nutrition Consultant, by phone at 916-324-9875 or 800-952-5609, or by e-mail at stam@cde.ca.gov.
