Published: 90 days ago
" On December 19, 2024, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) released the memo CACFP 05-2025, Grain Requirements in the Child and Adult Care Food Program; Questions and Answers. This memorandum provides updated guidance reflecting the final rule, explains the grain requirements for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP,) and includes questions and answers.
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On December 19, 2024, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) released the memo CACFP 05-2025, Grain Requirements in the Child and Adult Care Food Program; Questions and Answers. The purpose of this memorandum is to provide updated guidance on the provisions of the 2024 final rule that apply to the grains requirements in the CACFP, which included adding a definition for whole grain-rich into CACFP regulations; changing product-based limits for breakfast cereals and yogurts from total sugars to added sugars; and updating guidance on substituting vegetables to meet the grains requirements for eligible program operators.
In addition to the information included in previous memoranda, this memorandum specifically:
-- Provides updated guidance on added sugars;
-- Provides updated guidance on substituting vegetables for grains in eligible settings;
-- Adds two Q&As related to substituting vegetables for grains and using non-grain pasta products, respectively;
-- Adopts standardized terminology such as “institutions and facilities;” and
-- Reorganizes information throughout the memorandum for clarity.
Although FNS’ goal is to streamline guidance and align CNPs to the greatest extent possible, the agency recognizes that CACFP operates differently than the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) and serves distinct populations. Therefore, there are some instances when CACFP guidance differs from school meal programs guidance. For more information on the preschool meal pattern requirements for NSLP and SBP, see SP 01-2018, Updated Infant and Preschool Meal Patterns in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program; Questions and Answers, Oct. 19, 2017.
This memorandum supersedes CACFP 09-2018, Grain Requirements in the Child and Adult Care Food Program; Questions and Answers, published April 4, 2018.
TDA will include information from this memo in an upcoming release of the CACFP Handbook.
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