Correction and Additional Info: Nutrition Program Bulletin – Week of November 18, 2019

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Correction and Additional Info: Nutrition Program Bulletin – Week of November 18, 2019

The original November 18, 2019, Bulletin we sent had some information that was cut off or accidentally left out. The complete announcements are below, followed by the full text of the original bulletin.


New USDA Memo: Meal Service During Unanticipated School Closures

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) recently released a memo which supersedes the Meal Service During Unanticipated School and Day Care Closures Memo (SP 55-2016, CACFP 26-2016, SFSP 18-2016).  This memo provides updated guidance on the Child Nutrition Program flexibilities available during unanticipated school closures, such as extreme weather events, natural disasters or other emergency issues.  For more information, please review the Meal Service During Unanticipated School Closures Memo (SP 04-2020, CACFP 03-2020, SFSP 03-2020). 

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Now available: Product Formulation Statement Templates for Child Nutrition Programs

Updated product formulation statement templates are now available to assist food manufacturers in documenting how their food products contribute to Child Nutrition Programs’ (CNP) meal pattern requirements. These updated templates are program-specific to better meet the needs of CNP stakeholders, including the food industry and nutrition program operators.

These templates can be accessed from the Child Nutrition (CN) Labeling Program, Food Manufacturers/Industry webpage. Scroll to the bottom of the page, and see the templates underneath the “Manufacturer's Product Formulation Statement (PFS)” header.

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Original November 18, 2019 Bulletin Message:

Each section contains updates relevant to those nutrition programs. You can jump to the section you're interested in by clicking the link.


All Nutrition Programs

Change to Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Phone Line Hours

The Nutrition, Health and Youth Development division has modified its general receptionist hours for answering the main phone lines (651-582-8526 and 800-366-8922) and emails (mde.fns@state.mn.us). Phone calls will roll over to voicemail daily at 3:30 p.m. You will still be able to call and leave a message or email your requests. We will continue to answer your questions via phone or email as soon as we can.

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Now Available: Product Formulation Statement Templates for Child Nutrition Programs

Updated product formulation statement templates are now available to assist food manufacturers in documenting how their food products contribute to Child Nutrition Programs’ (CNP) meal pattern requirements. These updated templates are program-specific to better meet the needs of CNP stakeholders, including the food industry and nutrition program operators.

These templates can be accessed from the Child Nutrition (scroll to the bottom of the page, and find the templates underneath the “Manufacturer's Product Formulation Statement (PFS)” header.

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Child and Adult Care Food Program

CACFP Training Survey – Your Opinion Matters

The Minnesota Department of Education’s Team Nutrition program would like to learn more about your training needs as they relate to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Please fill out the CACFP training survey before November 27, 2019. It will take no longer than 10 minutes.

Please share this link with other staff who work with the CACFP as well. The results will shape the in-person and online training topics that will be offered over the next one to three years.

Directors, classroom staff, and cooks who work in the following organizations are encouraged to complete the survey:

  • Child care centers
  • Adult care
  • Head Start
  • At-risk afterschool
  • Emergency shelter

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Are You Due for an Administrative Review? The CACFP Administrative Review List for 2019-20 is Now Posted

The CACFP Administrative Review List for 2019-20 is now available on the State Agency Monitoring/Guidance webpage. This list includes the names of CACFP sponsors (including child care centers, adult care centers, emergency shelters, and at-risk afterschool meals sponsors) who are due for an administrative review in the 2019-20 program year.

CACFP staff conduct reviews throughout the year, and will typically call sponsors four to six weeks in advance to schedule their review. To get ready for your review, use the Preparing for a Child and Adult Care Food Program Review document.

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Register for CACFP Basic Training

Register now for one of the live, in-person workshops offered across the state. The training will provide basic information on the CACFP. The target audience includes new directors, cooks, or center staff with CACFP responsibilities at child care centers, adult care centers, and emergency shelters participating in CACFP.

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Food Distribution Program

USDA Food Processor Balances

We are over two months into the school year and USDA Foods processing usages should be at 25 percent, or 75 percent of your total pounds remaining. Log in to the K12 Foodservice and/or ProcessorLink portals to view your balances. Ensure that you have the correct distributor selected for each processor. You will not receive the discounted price if the selection has not been made.

As a reminder, sponsors that have unused pounds as of April 2020 will have their allocation swept (i.e., re-allocated to another sponsor). Refer to the Net Off Invoice Carry-Over Policy on the MDE Food Distribution Program webpage for more information.


Regular USDA Foods

There are over 40,000 cases of USDA Foods currently at Newport Cold Storage, the State-contracted warehouse. Sponsors can view what foods have been delivered to Newport for them in the “Received” column on the Customer Order Summary screen in CLiCS 1. Sponsors should contact their selected USDA Foods distributor if received cases have not been delivered to their sites.

There were multiple surveys for the delivery periods of January, February, and March 2020. Sponsors should be contacting their food distributors now to avoid large deliveries of USDA Foods at the end of the school year.


USDA Foods 110393 Pancakes Whole Wheat Fzn-144 Count

USDA received reports that orders shipped by Guidry Liason (U.S. Waffle Company brand) in School Year (SY) 2020 were in individual packages with three pancakes per package.  USDA was not aware of the new packaging type and appreciates states reporting this change and the resulting operational issues for school districts.  Here are a few key pieces of information about this product:

  • Though the packaging is different, the product still credits as indicated on the Product Information Sheet (one pancake = one oz. equivalent grain).
  • Per the manufacturer, pancakes should not be cooked in the plastic packaging.
  • USDA has contacted this vendor to ensure the packaging will be corrected for future shipments.  This is not a permanent packaging change for this item.

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School Nutrition Programs

Verification Reporting Due December 2!

Get your verification report into CLiCS early to avoid any last-minute errors that need to be corrected. The verification report is due December 2 and the average time to complete the report is approximately 20-30 minutes if all data elements are readily available. Print your blank report ahead of time to gather the necessary data requested.

Resources to assist you in reporting verification are available on the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) website at:

Verification Reporting User Guide

Verification Reporting - Quick Reference Guide

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Upcoming Tuesdays @ 2 Webinars

Listed below are the upcoming Tuesdays @ 2 webinar trainings for SNP sponsors:

  • Resource Management 101 (November 19, 2019, at 2 p.m.)
  • Standards of Conduct and Procurement Procedures (November 26, 2019, at 2 p.m.)
  • Smart Snacks Challenge (December 3, 2019, at 2 p.m.)

Access further information and registration for Tuesdays @ 2 webinars.

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Farm to School Training for School Nutrition Professionals

The Farm to School program offers multiple strategies to improve the health of students and communities. Join other school nutrition professionals in your region to discuss successful Farm to School strategies at any of these upcoming training sessions in December:

  • December 3, 2019, 9 a.m. to noon – Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Roseville, MN
  • December 10, 2019, 9 a.m. to noon – DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bemidji, MN
  • December 18, 2019, 1 to 4 p.m. – Watonwan County/St. James Public Library, Saint James, MN

Register for the December Farm to School Trainings.

These trainings will also cover where to find local foods in your area, how to connect with farmers, ways to promote and market your Farm to School initiatives, and how to move Farm to School beyond the cafeteria. Register now for this opportunity to learn from and network with your colleagues.

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Opportunities from Our Partners

Applications Open for 2020 Youth Gardening Grant

Deadline: December 16, 2019

Any nonprofit organization, public or private school, or youth program in the United States or US Territories planning a new garden program or expanding an established one that serves at least 15 youth between the ages of 3 and 18 is eligible to apply for this grant. The selection of winners is based on demonstrated program impact and sustainability. Learn more about the grants and apply here.

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CACFP Sponsors Association Conference Scholarships

Deadline: January 16, 2020

Fifteen scholarships are available from the National CACFP Sponsors Association to attend their national conference, which will be hosted in Atlanta, GA from April 14-16, 2020. Each scholarship will include conference registration, three (3) nights lodging at the conference hotel, and up to $300 toward transportation costs.

Individuals operating the CACFP or Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) are eligible to apply for scholarships in any of these categories: CACFP Sponsors, Tribal Nations, Head Start, Food Banks, At-Risk/Afterschool, Summer Food Program, Child Care Centers and Home Providers, and School Districts.

The deadline for the scholarship application is Thursday, January 16, 2020.

Apply for the CACFP Sponsors Association Conference Scholarships today.

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