| Nutrition Services Division Management Bulletin |
|
| Purpose: Policy, Beneficial Information | |
| To: National School Lunch Program Sponsors and School Breakfast Program Sponsors |
Number: USDA-SNP-13-2012 |
| Attention: Food Service Director |
Date: February 2012 |
| Subject: Questions and Answers on the Final Rule, “Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs” |
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| Reference: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Policy Memo SP 10-2012 | |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), has issued Policy Memo SP 10-2012, Questions & Answers on the Final Rule, “Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.” The FNS has issued this memo in response to questions regarding the new meal pattern requirements established under Section 201 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, Public Law 111-296. The memo is available on the FNS Nutrition Standards Web site at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Legislation/nutritionstandards.htm.
The Memo addresses questions in a number of areas, including:
- General issues, such as the rationale for the new requirements and effective dates for implementation
- Fruit and vegetable requirements
- Meat and meat alternates
- Identifying whole grain products
- Milk types and non-dairy milk substitutes
- Sodium requirements and target dates
- Offer versus Serve under the new rule
- USDA Foods
- Implementation and monitoring
The NSD recognizes the importance of providing School Nutrition Program sponsors support during the transition to meet the new requirements and will be providing information about upcoming trainings on the meal pattern by March 1, 2012.
For more information on the new meal requirements for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, please contact Grace Huppert, Nutrition Education Consultant, by phone at 916-322-1563, or by e-mail at ghuppert@cde.ca.gov.
