Meal Pattern Requirements
For each CNP, the fluid milk requirements can vary. Review the descriptions and use the links below for more information about each program’s requirement.
| Meal Pattern |
Description |
| NSLP Meal Pattern web page |
In the NSLP, fluid milk is one of the five required components that program operators must offer students at lunch. At least two milk choices must be offered. Pasteurized, fluid types of milk that meet state and local standards and contain vitamins A and D at levels specified by the Food and Drug Administration must be offered. All milk must be fat-free or low-fat. Milk with higher fat content is not allowed. Fat-free and low-fat fluid milk may be flavored or unflavored; if flavored milk is offered, then the other milk choice must be unflavored and, beginning July 1, 2025, it must not exceed the established limit for added sugars of no more than 10 grams of added sugar per 8 fluid ounces. Low-fat or fat-free, lactose-free, and reduced-lactose fluid milk may also be offered. Fat-free or low-fat cultured milk, fat-free or low-fat acidified milk, and Ultra High Temperature milk are also allowed. |
| SBP Meal Pattern web page |
In the SBP, fluid milk must be one of the three components offered to students at breakfast. At least two milk choices must be offered. Pasteurized, fluid types of milk that meet state and local standards and contain vitamins A and D at levels specified by the Food and Drug Administration must be offered. All milk must be fat-free or low-fat. Milk with higher fat content is not allowed. Fat-free and low-fat fluid milk may be flavored or unflavored; if flavored milk is offered, then the other milk choice must be unflavored and, beginning July 1, 2025, it must not exceed the established limit for added sugars of no more than 10 grams of added sugar per 8 fluid ounces. Low-fat or fat-free, lactose-free, and reduced-lactose fluid milk may also be offered. Fat-free or low-fat cultured milk, fat-free or low-fat acidified milk, and Ultra High Temperature milk are also allowed. |
| NSLP Afterschool Snack Program Meal Patterns web page |
In the Afterschool Snack Program, fluid milk is one of five food components that can be served. Program operators only need to select two of the five components for a reimbursable snack. When milk is served as a snack component, it is not required that program operators offer a variety of milk choices. Please note that fluid milk cannot be served when juice is the only other food component available and if flavored milk is offered, beginning July 1, 2025, it must not exceed the established limit for added sugars of no more than 10 grams of added sugar per 8 fluid ounces. |
SFSP Meal Pattern web page
 |
In the SFSP, school food authorities that are program operators of the NSLP/SBP may substitute the SFSP Meal Pattern with the NSLP/SBP meal pattern (above).
However, if the program operator only operates the SFSP, then the SFSP meal pattern must be implemented, and only one type of milk needs to be offered, beginning July 1, 2025, it must not exceed the established limit for added sugars of no more than 10 grams of added sugar per 8 fluid ounces. |
| SSO web page |
In the SSO, program operators use the NSLP and SBP meal patterns (above). |
| Special Milk Program web page |
In the Special Milk Program, only one type of fluid milk needs to be offered. If flavored milk is offered, beginning July 1, 2025, it must not exceed the established limit for added sugars of no more than 10 grams of added sugar per 8 fluid ounces. |
Requirements for Types of Milks Offered
Program operators must offer children pasteurized, fluid types of milk that meet state and local standards and contain vitamins A and D at levels specified by the Food and Drug Administration. The following regulations should be noted:
- All milk must be fat-free or low-fat (1 percent). Milk with higher fat content is not allowed.
- Fat-free fluid milk can be flavored or unflavored.
- Low-fat (1 percent) fluid milk can be flavored or unflavored.
- At least two types of milk must be offered for SBP, NSLP and SSO.
- If schools offer flavored milk, then unflavored milk must also be available at the meal service and beginning July 1, 2025, the flavored milk offered must contain no more than 10 grams of added sugar per 8 fluid ounces.
Information regarding vitamin A and D level requirements is located on the Nutrient Standards tab.
Program operators have the option, but are not required to, offer children the following fluid milk options as long as they adhere to state and federal requirements:
- Low-fat (1 percent) or fat-free, lactose-free, and reduced-lactose fluid milk
- Organic milk or milk with a label indicating it was produced from cows not treated with hormones
- Fat-free or low-fat (1 percent) cultured milk, such as cultured buttermilk, cultured kefir milk, and cultured acidophilus milk
- Fat-free or low-fat (1 percent) acidified milk, such as acidified kefir milk and acidified acidophilus milk
- Ultra High Temperature (UHT) milk
- Fluid milk substitutes including plant-based milk alternatives such as soymilk
For more information visit the Substitutions tab of this web page.
Milk Substitutes
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR), Section 210.10 (d)(2)(i) requires that parents or legal guardians must request the fluid milk substitution in writing; the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is not able to grant a waiver on this requirement. The written statement is required by statute and regulation when the fluid milk substitute is being served as part of the reimbursable meal.
Substitutes for Disability Reasons
Program operators must offer fluid milk substitutes to students for: (1) Disabilities, or (2) Medical needs, when:
- An RD or a state licensed healthcare professional (licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner) completes and signs the CDE Medical Statement to Request Special Meals and/or Accommodations form (CNP-925).
- The CNP-925 form is located in the Download Forms Section of the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS).
Substitutes for Non-disability Reasons
Program operators are given the discretion to offer fluid milk substitutes to students for (1) Medical and (2) Special Dietary needs, when:
- The program operator has found a product that meets the Food and Drug Administration specified nutrient standards.
- The parent or guardian completes, signs, and returns the Parental Request for Fluid Milk Substitution for School-age Children form (SNP-26).
- The SNP-26 form is located in the Download Forms Section of the CNIPS
- An electronic signature is acceptable on this form.
Special dietary needs include those accommodations related to religious or moral convictions or personal preference.
When providing a student a fluid milk substitute for non- disability reasons, program operators must notify the CDE by emailing a completed and signed Fluid Milk Substitutions Notification form (SNP-05) to SNPInfo@cde.ca.gov.
The SNP-05 form is only required to be submitted once and will remain in effect until the program operator changes its fluid milk substitution policy. The SNP-05 form is located in the Download Forms Section of the CNIPS.
For more information on the program operator's role in providing milk substitutions, visit the CDE Final Rule: Fluid Milk Substitutions web page.
Nutrient Standards for Fluid Milk and Substitutes
A program operator who offers a milk substitute to a student for disability reasons, and has the Special Meals and/or Accommodations form on file, is required to provide the substitute that is requested by the RD or state licensed healthcare professional (licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner).
If a program operator offers a milk substitute to student for non-disability reasons, and has a
Parental Request for Fluid Milk Substitution for School-age Children form (SNP-26) on file, the nondairy beverage must provide the nutrients listed in the following table:
| Nutrient |
Per one (1) cup (8 ounces) |
| Calcium |
276 milligrams (mg) |
| Protein |
8 grams (g) |
| Vitamin A |
500 International Units (IU) or 150 micrograms (mcg) retinol activity equivalents (RAE) |
| Vitamin D |
100 IU or 2.5 mcg |
| Magnesium |
24 mg |
| Phosphorus |
222 mg |
| Potassium |
349 mg |
| Riboflavin |
0.44 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 |
1.1 mcg |
Note that the added sugar limits for flavored milk that go into effect July 1, 2025, do not apply to non-dairy fluid milk substitutes.
Policy Guidance
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and CDE have issued the following policy memoranda related to milk requirements. When merited, the CDE will release an additional management bulletin to include state specific policy guidance and further explain or clarify the topic
listed below:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The CDE Nutrition Services Division (NSD) is providing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help clarify common questions regarding milk requirements in the CNPs.
Expand All | Collapse All
Yes. Schools may use bulk milk dispensers to provide milk to their students during meal service. Regulations do not mandate any specific type of packaging for milk served as part of the reimbursable meal, nor do they restrict the ability of schools to use milk dispensers. Schools may use these self-serve machines as long as they:
- Offer at least two choices of fluid milk that meet the meal pattern guidelines
- Take steps to ensure that children receive the required 8 fluid ounce (oz) ounce serving when selecting milk, such as procuring cups that are greater than 8 (oz) to accommodate 8 (oz) of milk
- Update and display signage indicating the components in a reimbursable meal
- Update policy and procedures to include how food service staff will monitor or check that students receive the full 8 (oz) serving
Yes. Requirements for competitive beverages, including milk and milk substitutes, are different from requirements for the CNPs. For competitive beverage requirements, visit the CDE Competitive Foods and Beverages web page, select the Resources tab, and the Quick Reference Cards for competitive beverage requirements.
Yes. This only applies if a program operator chooses to offer the milk(s) as an a la carte item at no charge or at a price lower than the cost. However, because milk and other beverages offered outside of reimbursable meals are nonprogram foods, the program operators must generate adequate revenue from other nonprogram foods so that the total revenue meets the requirements in Title 7 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 210.14(f). See Q 17, on page 36, in SP 10-2012v9.
Beginning July 1, 2025, flavored milk served as a part of the Child Nutrition Programs must contain no more than 10 grams of added sugars per 8 fluid ounces.
Fluid milk refers to pasteurized fat-free (skim) milk; low-fat (1 percent) milk; reduced-fat (2 percent) milk; whole milk; lactose-free milk; lactose-reduced milk; cultured milk, such as cultured buttermilk, cultured kefir milk, and cultured acidophilus milk; acidified milk, such as acidified kefir milk and acidified acidophilus milk; and Ultra High Temperature (UHT) milk, all of which meet State and local standards for such milk.
Contacts
If you have any questions regarding milk requirements
for the CNPs, please contact the School Nutrition Program Unit by email at SNPInfo@cde.ca.gov.
