Teacher of the Year Ceremony
Due to inclement weather, the Teacher of the Year Ceremony has been postponed to December 16, 2025 from 5-7pm. Doors will open at 4pm. The Ceremony will take place at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, and the order of events will remain the same.

Special Diets in the Child and Adult Care Food Program

Milk Substitutes

for Nondisability Reasons 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) meal patterns for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) allow two types of optional fluid milk substitutions for participants who do not consume regular cow’s milk due to non-disability reasons. These include lactose-free or lactose-reduced milk and fluid milk substitutes that meet the USDA’s nutrition standards for fluid milk substitutes. These requirements do not apply to fluid milk substitutes for participants whose disability restricts their diet.

For detailed guidance on the meal modification requirements for disability reasons for children in the CACFP, refer to the CSDE's guides below. 

Lactose-free/reduced Milk

Lactose-free and lactose-reduced milk are fluid milk and credit the same as regular milk in the milk component for the CACFP meal patterns. These types of milk are processed by adding lactase enzymes to reduce or eliminate the lactose (naturally occurring milk sugar) found in regular milk. participants who cannot digest the lactose found in regular milk may be able to drink lactose-free/reduced milk. The USDA recommends these types of milk as the first choice for participants with lactose intolerance.

Lactose-free/reduced milk must meet the meal pattern requirements below for each age group:

  • Age 1: Unflavored whole milk
  • Ages 2-5: Unflavored low-fat or fat-free milk for ages 2-5
  • Ages 6 and older and adult participants: Low-fat or fat-free milk, either unflavored or flavored
    The USDA’s CACFP best practices recommend serving only unflavored milk.

Child care centers in public schools must also meet the additional state beverage requirements for milk under Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) Section 10-221q.

Fluid Milk Substitutes that Meet USDA’s Nutrition Standards

Section 7 CFR 226.20(g)(3) of the CACFP regulations allows CACFP facilities to offer one or more fluid milk substitutes (plant-based beverages designed to replace cow's milk) that meet the USDA’s nutrition standards for fluid milk substitutes. Only certain brands of fluid milk substitutes meet these standards. Child care centers in public schools must also meet the additional state beverage requirements for nondairy milk substitutes under C.G.S. Section 10-221q. 

Identifying Acceptable Fluid Milk Substitute Products

Before purchasing, CACFP facilities must ensure that fluid milk substitutes comply with the USDA’s nutrition standards for fluid milk substitutes. Commercial products that meet the USDA’s nutrition standards for fluid milk substitutes are identified in the CSDE's resources below.

If a commercial product is not listed, CACFP facilities must contact the manufacturer to obtain documentation that 1 cup provides the minimum amount of each required nutrient. 

Certain brands of soy milk and oat milk are the only currently available commercial products that meet these requirements. Almond milk, cashew milk, rice milk, some brands of soy milk, most brands of oat milk, and other nondairy milk products do not comply with the USDA’s nutrition standards and cannot be offered as fluid milk substitutes for non-disability reasons in the CACFP. 

Guidance