Working Together to Nourish the Nation

FNS - Food Crediting in Child Nutrition Programs: Request for Information; Extension of Comment Period

  • Wednesday, February 21, 2018 12:45 PM
    Message # 5828686
    Anonymous

    SUMMARY:  

    The National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program,

    Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program

    (Child Nutrition Programs), which are administered by the United States

    Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS),

    play a critical role in ensuring that America's children have access to

    the nutritious food they need to learn and succeed in the classroom,

    afterschool, and during the summer. It is FNS' responsibility to

    establish and support the meal patterns and nutrition standards

    (collectively referred to as meal patterns) in the Child Nutrition

    Programs that advance the goals of providing nutritious and satisfying

    meals to a broad population of children. At the same time, FNS works to

    simplify the menu planning process for Program operators to promote the

    efficient use of Program funds and provide a wide variety of food

    choices to menu planners and children.

    In order to claim Federal reimbursement, Child Nutrition Program

    operators must serve meals and snacks that meet the minimum meal

    pattern requirements of the respective Program. Crediting is the

    process designed by FNS to specify how individual food items contribute

    to the Child Nutrition Programs' meal patterns. Several factors impact

    how food products can credit toward reimbursable meals, such as volume,

    weight, and overall nutrient profile.

    The purpose of this Request for Information is to help FNS gather

    feedback from a wide variety of stakeholders on how FNS' crediting

    system can best address today's evolving food and nutrition

    environment, as well as to offer first-rate customer service to those

    operating and benefitting from the Child Nutrition Programs. FNS

    welcomes comments from all interested stakeholders. While FNS is

    interested in your general comments about the crediting process, FNS

    also invites comments on the crediting of several specific food

    products. FNS is especially interested in understanding both the

    possible benefits and any negative impacts associated with potential

    changes to how certain foods may or may not credit.

    FNS is extending the comment period to provide additional time for

    interested parties to review this Request for Information.


    DATES: The comment period for the Request for Information that was

    published on December 14, 2017 (82 FR 58792) has been extended from

    February 12, 2018 to April 23, 2018. To be assured of consideration,

    comments must be received on or before April 23, 2018.

    FNS- Food Crediting in Child Nutrition Programs: Request for Information; Extension of Comment Period

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