Nutrition Program Bulletin – Week of May 30, 2022
Correction: The Point of Service and Meal Counting Procedures link under SNP, Return to regular meal counting and claiming, has been corrected.
Each section contains updates relevant to those nutrition programs. You can jump to the section by clicking the link.
End of School Year 2021-22 and At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program
Schools and community organizations that are operating CACFP At-Risk must ensure their site(s) closing date aligns with the end of the SY21-22 school year for the local school district. At-Risk Afterschool Meals cannot be served after the school year ends. Retain a copy of the school-year calendar as documentation on file. Meals claimed for CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program after the end of the school-year will not be reimbursable.
Procurement Planning for At-Risk Afterschool Meals in School Year 2022-23
Vended meal sites require a competitively procured contract based on the annual value of the meals projected to be served. Vended meal contracts that were not competitively procured may only be used for one year and may not be renewed. A new contract must be procured following the procurement standards in 2 CFR 200.
View procurement resources, including links to the 2 CFR 200 and template vended meal contract, on the CACFP Procurement and Contracts webpage.
Infant Formula Supply Chain Shortage
Thank you for ensuring that infants in your care receive optimal nutrition despite the challenges presented by formula supply chain issues.
At this time, we know many steps are underway to increase the availability of infant formula. Refer to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services for information on what is being done to address the shortage and how to Find Formula During the Infant Formula Shortage.
Currently, there have been no waivers issued by the USDA related to this shortage. Meaning, the same standards for “creditable” infant formulas continue to apply from a CACFP reimbursable meal standpoint.
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) will continue to share information and resources as they are made available.
Tips for securing a creditable Iron Fortified Infant Formula (IFIF) in times of short supply:
- Choose a different brand/supplier of formula. Consider buying store brand infant formula from retailers like Target, Walmart, Hy-Vee, Walgreens, CVS, Costco, etc.;
- Source formula from a creditable online supplier like Amazon or other online retailers (do not buy from unregulated sources like Craigslist or Facebook, etc.);
- Use this Minnesota Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)-Approved Substitution resource to find alternative brands that are similar to common Similac Brands – Updated May 21.
Back to top
USDA Foods Product Recall
The J. M. Smucker Co. Issues Voluntary Recall of Select Jif® Products Sold in the U.S. for Potential Salmonella Contamination
In cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the J. M. Smucker Co. is recalling select Jif® peanut butter products sold in the U.S. due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recalled peanut butter was distributed nationwide in retail stores, K12 and other outlets. Recalled products include the lot codes 1274425–2140425. Lot codes are located alongside the best-if-used by date. Consumers with products matching these lot codes should dispose of it immediately. The Smucker’s Uncrustable product line is not impacted by this recall.
For questions or to report adverse reactions, visit www.jif.com or contact the company at 800-828-9980.
Repeat Postings
USDA Foods Report for the Auditor 2021-2022
The School Year 2021-2022 USDA Foods Received Report for the Auditor has been posted. The report can be found under the Food and Nutrition Programs section on the Data Reports and Analytics webpage. Please use this report along with your Sponsor Entitlement Screens to complete your year-end reconciliations.
School Year 2023 Distributor Selection
Participating School Food Authority (SFAs), will need to procure a distributor for school year (SY) 2022-2023 as you have before. When you have chosen a distributor, you will need to select them in the Cyber-Linked Interactive Child Nutrition System (CLiCS). Instructions for Selecting Your USDA Foods Distributor can be found on Food Distribution Program website under quick links. To ensure timely delivery of your food, complete this process before June 30, 2022.
Back to top
End of School Year 2021-22 and At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program
Schools and community organizations that are operating CACFP At-Risk must ensure their site(s) closing date aligns with the end of the SY21-22 school year for the local school district. At-Risk Afterschool Meals cannot be served after the school year ends. Retain a copy of the school-year calendar as documentation on file. Meals claimed for CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program after the end of the school-year will not be reimbursable.
Local Use Data Communication
MDE has been made aware that Infinite Campus made changes to the Local Use Data field in the MARSS B file. This may affect districts who currently use the Local Use Data field to support work in a variety of areas, including School Finance, Statewide Testing, and Nutrition Services. MDE is aware of the issue and is working to communicate how this field should be used with Student Information System (SIS) vendors.
USDA Team Nutrition Resources
USDA Team Nutrition recently announced the following resources:
- New resource available called Nutrient Analysis Protocols (NAP) Manual. The NAP Manual assists with the process of obtaining an accurate nutrient analysis of menus using a USDA-approved software program. It provides guidance for calculating the nutrient analysis of menus offered in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).
- Two new tip sheets on crediting fruits and vegetables across all Child Nutrition Programs. View Crediting Tip Sheets.
- “A Guide to Smart Snacks in School” has been updated and now contains current information about milk types, updated instructions for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Smart Snack Product Calculator, an updated Nutrition Facts label, and nutrition education resources. View A Guide to Smart Snacks in Schools.
School Food Authorities (SFAs) Planning for SY 2022-23 Normal Operations
School Food Authorities (SFAs) will be returning to operating the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in SY 2022-23. In preparation, sponsors should be taking the following steps now:
-
Notify all households that free school meals for all students are expiring June 30, 2022. Families will need to fill out a Household Application for Education benefits to qualify for free or reduced-price meals or pay full price for student meals in SY 2022-23.
-
Prepare to distribute and process Applications for Education Benefits after July 1. Households will need to re-apply to receive free or reduced-price meals. Applications cannot be posted or distributed prior to July 1. The State Agency’s template packet and accompanying resources will be posted on the MDE website soon.
-
Establish Paid Lunch Meal Price. USDA has released the SY 2022-23 Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) tool. Schools are advised of the following:
- SFAs with a positive or zero balance in its nonprofit school food service account (NSFSA) as of December 31, 2021, are exempt from PLE pricing requirements found at 7 CFR 210.14(e) for SY 2022-23.
- SFAs with a negative balance in the nonprofit school food service account as of December 31, 2021, must follow PLE requirements when establishing SY 2022-23 paid lunch prices.
- SFAs can use their last paid lunch price established prior to participating in Seamless Summer Option as a starting point. However, consider using the USDA Target Lunch Price ($3.31), rounded down to the nearest 5 cents, as a starting point due to rising food costs.
- Ensure the determined paid lunch price will support program operations.
- The maximum amount a school/district is required to increase their paid lunch price is .10 cents.
-
Return to congregate meal dining only. With the return to operating under the School Breakfast Program (SBP)/National School Lunch Program (NSLP), federal regulations require that all meals served must be provided in a congregate meal setting only. Grab/go or curbside meals intended to be consumed offsite will no longer be allowed. Only reimbursable meals served in a congregate dining setting can be claimed.
-
Return to regular meal counting and claiming. In SY 2022-23, a total meal count/clicker count can no longer be used.
- Meal counts must be taken by student name at the point of service.
- Meals must be claimed by student eligibility category (free, reduced-price, and paid). This includes all alternate meal service locations as well.
- A student has paid eligibility status until an Application for Educational Benefits is approved or the student is directly certified for meal benefits.
- A traditional School Daily-Monthly Claims Edit Check must be completed. If using a point of service computer software, the edit check report generated from that system is sufficient.
- Claims must be submitted under the School Nutrition Program in CLiCS. Use the Claim for Reimbursement Quick Step Process for School Nutrition Programs instructions when submitting a School Nutrition Programs claim.
- Review the Point of Service and Meal Counting Procedures. This guidance outlines all requirements for implementing acceptable counting and claiming procedures for the School Nutrition Programs.
Schedule time for foodservice staff training prior to SY 2022-23.
Extensive online training resources and summer hybrid training opportunities can be found on the SNP training and professional standards webpage. Ensuring compliance starts with providing training to all new and returning foodservice staff prior to the start of the school year! Watch the Nutrition Bulletin for future state agency SY 2022-23 back-to-school training opportunities that will be offered in August.
Back to top
Contact Us | Manage Preferences | Unsubscribe | FNS Bulletin Archive
FNS Website
|
