|
|
DATE:
|
December 18, 2025
|
|
TO:
|
Licensed Child Day Centers, Licensed Short-Term Child Day Centers, Religiously Exempt Child Day Centers, Certified Preschools, Exempt Out-of-School Time Programs, Filing Exempt Programs, and Unlicensed Center-Based Subsidy Providers
|
|
FROM:
|
Jeffrey S. Williams, Assistant Superintendent, Child Care Health and Safety
|
|
SUBJECT:
|
Updated Food Service Guidelines for Child Day Centers that Do Not Hold a Food Establishment Permit from the Virginia Department of Health
|
This memo is to alert child day centers operating without a food establishment permit of changes per the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) related to which foods may be served to children in care. The Virginia Department of Education recently learned that in 2021, the VDH rescinded the 1994 policy implementation memo, “Guidelines for Snack Food Service in Care Facilities,” thereby limiting food items that may be served by nonpermitted centers. Child day centers that do not hold a VDH food permit are limited to serving commercially prepared, individually packaged non temperature-controlled foods such as individually packaged animal crackers, pretzels and granola bars.
Please refer to the memo below from the VDH for more information about this change. Guidelines for food service not requiring a VDH food permit and additional information related to food service requirements can be found on the Food Safety in Virginia – Environmental Health website.
If you have any questions or need assistance after reading the memo below from the VDH, please contact your local health department.
|
|
|
|
