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Crediting Documentation for the Child Nutrition Programs

Nutrition Information

Sponsors of the Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs) must obtain nutrition information for all commercially processed foods served in reimbursable meals and snacks. If a processed product does not have a Nutrition Facts label, sponsors are responsible for obtaining the necessary information from the manufacturer.  

In addition to CN labels and PFS forms, nutrition information helps menu planners determine if certain commercial products credit toward the meal patterns for the CNPs. Nutrition information is also required to meet the USDA’s requirement for providing reasonable meal modifications for children whose disability restricts their diet.


Guidance  |   Food Labels
Meal Modifications  |   Nutrition Information for USDA Foods
Nutrition Disclosure for Alternate Protein Products in School Menus


Guidance

Food Labels

The FDA requires the Nutrition Facts label on most packaged foods and beverages. The Nutrition Facts label can vary among different products because it contains product-specific information for serving size, calories, and nutrient information. 

The FDA requires food manufacturers to list all ingredients in the food on the label. The ingredients statement lists ingredients by weight, from most to least. The closer an ingredient is to the beginning of the list, the more of it the food contains. 

Meal Modifications

Federal nondiscrimination laws and regulations require schools and institutions to make reasonable meal modifications on a case-by-case basis for children whose disability restricts their diet. The USDA considers providing nutrition information for foods served in reimbursable meals and snacks to be part of reasonable meal modifications for participants whose disability restricts their diet. CNP sponsors are responsible for making nutrition information for reimbursable meals and snacks available to participants, families, medical professionals, and appropriate staff, as needed. Refer to the resources below for information on the requirements for meal modifications in the CNPs.

Nutrition Information for USDA Foods

  • Food Distribution Program (USDA Foods) (CSDE webpage)
  • USDA Foods in Schools Product Information Sheets (USDA): Product’s description, crediting and yield information, culinary tips and recipes, food safety information, and general Nutrition Facts label. Note: For further processed USDA Foods, the nutrition information and ingredients for USDA direct delivery food items (brown box) may vary based on the vendor who received the bid. Contact from the manufacturer for product-specific information.
  • USDA Foods Database (USDA): Nutrition, allergen, and ingredient information for direct delivered USDA Foods.

Nutrient Analysis of Breakfast and Lunch Menus for Grades K-12

During the Administrative Review of the school nutrition programs, the CSDE must assess whether breakfast and lunch meals offered to students in grades K-12 are consistent with the USDA’s weekly dietary specifications (nutrition standards) for calories, saturated fat, and sodium. If a nutrient analysis is required as part of the CSDE’s Administrative Review of the school nutrition programs, it will include all foods (including condiments) and beverages offered as part of reimbursable meals during the one-week review period. Nutrition information must be available for all menu items.

Nutrition Disclosure for Alternate Protein Products in School Menus

The NSLP regulations (7 CFR 210.10 (n)) require that school food authorities must accurately represent foods on school menus. Menus cannot claim that a food item is beef, pork, poultry (such as chicken or turkey), or seafood (such as fish or tuna) if the food item contains more than 30 percent alternate protein products (APPs). The names used for these menu items must reflect that they are not 100 percent meat, poultry, or fish. For more information on APPs, refer to the CSDE’s resource, Requirements for Alternate Protein Products in the School Nutrition Programs.