Guidance for Accepting Processed Product Documentation for Meal Pattern Requirements

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released memo SP05-2025, CACFP04-2025, SFSP02-2025.

• Effective immediately, this provides information regarding program requirements for the: 1) Child nutrition (CN) label, 2) Watermarked CN label and 3) manufacturer’s Product Formulation Statement (PFS).

• It also provides updates regarding the CN Label Verification System and the date of authorization found on the CN label versus the Valid Until date on the CN Label Verification Report.

Substituting Vegetables for Grains in American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Tribal Communities

 USDA released memo SP 03-2025, CACFP 03-2025, SFSP 01-2025.

• Effective immediately, eligible entities may substitute any creditable vegetable for the grains or bread component with an emphasis on traditional and culturally relevant vegetables.

• Eligible entities include programs where American Indian or Alaska Native participants represent the largest demographic group of enrolled participants.

CACFP Review List and Two-Year Review Cycle

The CACFP Administrative Review List for 2024–25 with CACFP sponsors due for an administrative review is now available. A Nutrition Program Consultant will contact you to schedule the administrative review if your sponsor’s name is on the list.

USDA published a Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule with a regulatory change effective in the 2024–25 program year to increase the frequency of reviews for some institutions operating CACFP from a three-year to a two-year review cycle. Refer to CACFP 05-2024, Implementation Guidance: State Agency Review Requirements for more information.

Guidance for Offer Versus Serve (OVS) and Family Style Meals

USDA released a memo with guidance on OVS and Family Style Meals in the CACFP. In addition to the memo, there are two attachments—one with questions and answers and the other with OVS examples. This memo also provides updates to terms consistent with the 2024 final rule. For more information, read CACFP 02-2025.

Updated Milk Nutrition Guidance

USDA released a memo with questions and answers regarding Nutrition Requirements for Fluid Milk and Fluid Milk Substitutions for operators of CACFP. This memo updates the current guidance for fluid milk requirements following the 2024 final rule. For more information, read CACFP 01-2025.

Administrative Review (AR), Resource Management (RM) and Procurement Reviews (PR) Clarifications

Fluid Milk Requirements for School Meals

USDA released memo SP 01-2025.

• The 2024 final rule maintains existing fluid milk requirements, which allow all schools to offer fat-free and low-fat, flavored and unflavored milk to K-12 students.

• Consistent with existing requirements, unflavored milk must be offered at each school breakfast and lunch meal service.

• The 2024 final rule did not change the requirements related to nondairy fluid milk substitutes.

• Beginning July 1, 2025, flavored milk must contain no more than 10 grams of added sugars per 8 fluid ounces. The product-based added sugar limit also applies to milk sold as an a la carte beverage.

New MyPlate Curricula for Minnesota Schools

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Nutrition Program Services division is excited to share the new MyPlate nutrition curricula for Minnesota schools. This includes the Fun with MyPlate Curriculum for grades 3–5 and the Mastering MyPlate Curriculum for grades 6–8. The materials include an Educator Guide, lesson videos, classroom activities and additional resources to explore. The lessons can be shared with classroom teachers, Family and Consumer Science classes, Health and Physical Education classes, afterschool programs, etc. Visit MDE’s Team Nutrition webpage to view the curricula.

Nonpublic Schools: Complete Second Required Direct Certification Now

Nonpublic schools participating in the SNP are required to upload student enrollment data into The Cyber-Linked Interactive Child Nutrition System (CLiCS) at least three times per year to determine if any students can be directly certified. Nonpublic schools with a September–June academic calendar are required to directly certify students at the beginning of the school year, in late November, and in late February to meet USDA’s direct certification requirements.

For more information, refer to the following resources on the MDE Direct Certification webpage:

• Direct Certification Overview Video
• Direct Certification Handbook
• How to Obtain Direct Certification Data Through Student Enrollment Data File Upload
• School Enrollment File Upload

Print Materials Available for Say Yes! to School Meals Resources

MDE has "Say Yes! to School Meals" resources back in stock and they are available for schools to order free of charge. The marketing materials are designed to assist in promoting SNPs. The materials—which include poster sets, infographics and fridge magnets—are available in English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali.

To view the materials and place an order, visit the Say Yes! to School Meals Materials order form.

Required Documents to be Publicly Posted

As a reminder, the following items must be posted conspicuously in the meal service area where students, parents and school staff can easily view them:

• Current Food and Beverage License

• Most recent full health inspection report

• And Justice for All poster

• Menu offered (for the day, week or entire month)

• Offer Versus Serve (OVS) signage (if school uses OVS)

Check your site(s) to make sure that all of these items are posted conspicuously and are not behind the serving line or in the kitchen.

Second Opportunity for New and Aspiring SNP Directors to Attend Leadership Training

Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN), in collaboration with Lakes Country Service Cooperative and the Cooperative Purchasing Connection, invites all new and aspiring foodservice directors in Minnesota to join them for a second offering of the training “Introduction to School Nutrition Leadership” being held in Sartell, Minnesota, in December. Retired Minnesota school food service director and award-winning school nutrition leader, Annette Hendrickx Derouin, will lead the training. Register for the December 2–4, 2024, Leadership Training.

Substitution of Vegetables for Fruit Flexibility in the School Breakfast Program (SBP): Questions and Answers for Program Operators

USDA released memo SP 02-2025.

• Schools are not required to offer vegetables at breakfast and may choose to offer only fruits at breakfast.

• In school year 2024–25, SFAs participating in the SBP may credit any vegetable offered in place of fruit without including vegetable subgroup variety.

• Beginning July 1, 2025, schools choosing to offer vegetables at breakfast in place of fruits:
  • One day per week may offer vegetables from any vegetable subgroup
  • Two or more days per week must offer vegetables from at least two different vegetable subgroups over the course of the week

Unanticipated School Closure Waiver to Operate the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Approved

USDA has approved MDE’s Unanticipated School Closure Waiver to Operate SFSP. With state agency approval, this waiver allows schools to provide meals and snacks to students in the SFSP during an unanticipated school closure. Use of this waiver would only be available when no virtual learning is taking place. Flexibilities include:

• Non-congregate meal service,

• Waiver of meal service times,

• Parent/guardian meal pickup, and

• Allowing reimbursement for meal service prior to notification of SFSP approval.

A school site must be eligible to participate in the SFSP to serve meals under this waiver.

In order to apply to use these flexibilities, an SFA must be in good standing, complete all application materials and be approved. If a school is in a situation that may warrant the use of this waiver, the school should email mde.fns@state.mn.us for additional information and guidance.

Verification Reporting: Last Week to Report

Verification reports are due to CLiCS by Monday, December 2. Begin by printing your report to gather the necessary data requested. Enter your report now to avoid any last-minute errors that need to be corrected. All SFAs need to submit some data in the verification report, even if your SFA:

• is Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) district-wide.

• is an RCCI.

• did not have any approved Applications for Educational Benefits as of October 1, 2024.

Your school’s nutrition program payments may be stopped if you miss the December 2 deadline. Resources to assist you in reporting verification are available in MDE’s Verification Reporting Handbook.