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The FDA has issued a Public Health Advisory after Abbott announced a voluntary recall for certain Similac brand or Elecare powdered infant formulas after Cronobacter and Salmonella complaints. The FDA is advising consumers not to use Similac, Alimentum or EleCare powdered infant formulas if:
- the first two digits of the code are 22 through 37 and
- the code on the container contains K8, SH, or Z2, and
- the expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later.
The code is printed on the product packaging near the expiration date.
Products that do not contain the information listed above are not impacted by this advisory. This advisory does not include liquid formula products or any metabolic deficiency nutrition formulas. Consumers should continue to use all product not covered by this advisory.
While FDA is the Federal regulatory agency responsible for ensuring the safety of infant formula, FNS is committed to working collaboratively with the FDA to ensure that FNS stakeholders receive timely and relevant information. FNS will provide additional information as this situation develops.
 OSPI Child Nutrition Services is joining the National CACFP Sponsors Association for National CACFP Week. This annual campaign is designed to raise awareness of how the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Child and Adult Care Food Program works to combat hunger and bring healthy foods to the table for participants of child care centers, adult day services and day care homes across the country.
You can get involved in this celebration by:
- Nominating your organization, yourself, or a staff member for the CACFP Excellence Award
- Submitting your favorite CACFP meal pattern compliant recipe
- Submitting a brief statement, artwork, photos, or quotes about what CACFP means to you, your staff and the families you serve
Make your CACFP Excellence Award nomination or submit your recipes and CACFP statement(s) by March 7, 2022!
Who is eligible to receive the CACFP Excellence Award?
Any individual or organization participating in the CACFP (centers, homes, schools, emergency shelters, food banks, etc.) or CACFP Sponsoring Organization receive this award.
Examples of nominations for CACFP Excellence may include, but are not limited to:
- Continued to provide CACFP meals/snacks during the pandemic:
- Ex. Meal delivery, expansion of services, collaborated with local organization, etc.
- Committed food service staff
- Uses creative, appealing, and nutritious CACFP compliant menus
- Conducts ongoing efforts to make mealtime fun
- Offers nutrition education
CACFP Excellence Award recipients, recipe submissions, and CACFP statement submissions will be highlighted in our March 13 Weekly Newsletter. CACFP Excellence Award recipients will also be acknowledged by State Agency staff during a virtual recognition event and presented with a certificate of excellence on March 16, 2022.
What You Need to Know About Ownership Changes
Operation of the Child and Adult Care Program (CACFP) is not transferable between businesses when ownership changes occur. Reimbursement to the previous owner will not be granted after the date of the ownership change.
The new owners must start the CACFP application process to become a CACFP Sponsor with the new:
- Business name
- Tax ID number
- Statewide Payee Number
The application process may take up to three months and in some cases longer. During this time claims may not be submitted for reimbursement by the new or previous program sponsor. New CACFP sponsors may begin claiming meals for reimbursement once the Child Nutrition Programs Unified Permanent Agreement has been signed by both OSPI and the CACFP Sponsor.
Funds Must be Returned to OSPI CNS if:
- Claims are submitted for reimbursement by the previous owner after an ownership transition occurs
- Emergency Operating Cost (EOC) funds were granted but not spent prior to the business transfer must be returned.
If your business is anticipating an ownership change please notify your specialist as soon as possible. Your CACFP specialist will assist you and the new business owner through this transition.
Do you believe in the power of good nutrition? Are you interested in assisting school districts and other institutions in providing children with healthy and nutritious meals? CNS is seeking skilled candidates for several positions. Does this sound like you? Apply to join the CNS team today!
Current Recruitments
Upcoming Recruitments
- Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Special Programs Supervisor
- Administrative Program Specialist – multiple programs
- Administrative Assistant 3- Community Nutrition
- Business Analyst
- Fiscal Specialist
- Fiscal Analyst
To support school nutrition, child care, and adult care professionals' efforts to connect children and adults with nutritious meals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) established nationwide waivers to allow program flexibility for School Year 2021–22 (SY 21–22) and Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22).
Allowances may be requested in circumstances where sponsors are experiencing food or labor shortages or altered facility operations due to COVID-19.
The CACFP Meal Distribution Plan (MDP) & Waiver Request Survey may be submitted for current program operation through September 30, 2022. Use this Checklist prior to beginning the survey. If you exit the survey before it is submitted, your progress will be lost.
The MDP Survey must be submitted to request the following flexibilities:
- Grab-and-Go Meal Service
- Off-site Monitoring
- Meal Pattern Flexibilities
Additional information or follow up documentation may be requested by your Program Specialist to support approval of waiver requests.
More MDP Information
- Your MDP must be submitted and approved prior to utilizing available waivers granted by the USDA. Approval may be made retroactive in emergency circumstances when prior approval cannot be made.
- FNS expects schools and child care providers to use the flexibilities for only the duration and extent that they are needed.
- Waiver use will be approved on a case-by-case basis and only for a limited duration of time.
- Once you submit the MDP you will receive a confirmation email.
- Your program specialist will contact you regarding approval status of your organization's plan and waiver request(s).
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To request use of additional waivers or extensions for approved waivers, program operators should notify their program specialist and submit an additional MDP for approval.
Resources
Questions? Please contact your CACFP Specialist.
CORE is a USDA FNS funded initiative designed to provide practical CACFP training to Sponsoring Organizations. Training resources are accessible online, in-person and via mobile device. The mobile app contains interactive child nutrition related micro lessons which include the following topics:
- Components of Corrective Action
- Elements of a finding
- Edit check best practices
- The five-day meal count reconciliation
- The 10 allowability cost factors
- Calculating non-profit food service
- Calculating the administrative fee
- Red Flags
The app is available on Google Play or the Apple Store. To learn more about available courses and the mobile app, visit the CORE website.
In honor of Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Week, USDA’s Team Nutrition will present a special CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays webinar on “Grains Ounce Equivalents Tools for CACFP Operators.”
Register for a Webinar!
This upcoming webinar will highlight different tools for implementing grains ounce equivalents that CACFP operators can use to plan meals at their sites, and answer frequently asked questions about the topic. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions and check their knowledge through interactive polling questions.
Register for the Grains Ounce Equivalents Tools for CACFP Operators webinar (English)
Date: Monday, March 14
Time: 11:00 – 11:30 am PT
Register for the Grains Ounce Equivalents Tools for CACFP Operators webinar (Spanish)
Date: Monday, March 14
Time: 12:00 – 12:30 pm PT
Additional Information
- Both webinars will be recorded and made available at a later date. All who register for the webinar will receive an email once the recording is available.
- Team Nutrition will provide certificates of participation to individuals who attend the entire thirty-minute webinar.
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Do you need an alternative format or accessibility tools to help you participate in this event? Participants who require a different accessibility tool to participate in this webinar, please email Sheila Kopczynski by February 28 for assistance.
Interested in watching recorded Team Nutrition trainings on other CACFP Topics? Visit the CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays webpage.
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