Latest News for the Summer Meal Programs

USDA Releases Final Rule for Child Nutrition Program Nutrition Standards - SFSP

Published: 218 days ago On April 25, USDA released the final and improved nutrition standards for the Child Nutrition Programs. Changes primarily affect the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, but several changes also affect SFSP. Provisions of the rule that apply to SFSP go into effect July 1, 2024. 

TDA is working to review the rule in-depth and determine the best path of implementation. TDA will communicate updates to guidance in newsletters and on the Policy page of SquareMeals.org: https://www.squaremeals.org/Programs/Summer-Meal-Programs/Policy-Handbooks

Updates affecting SFSP include:

Supporting Other Food Preferences
•    Allows nuts and seeds to credit for the full meats/meat alternates component, removing the 50 percent crediting limit for nuts and seeds at breakfast, lunch, and supper.

Supporting Local Food Purchases
•    Expands the geographic preference option to allow “locally grown,” “locally raised,” or “locally caught” as procurement specifications for unprocessed or minimally processed food items.

Terminology Change
•    Changes references to “dry beans and peas (legumes)” to “beans, peas, and lentils.”

For more information about changes made by the final rule, see these USDA resources:
•    Implementation Timeline for Key Updates to Nutrition Standards:  https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/school-nutrition-standards-updates/implementation-timeline-cacfp-sfsp
•    USDA Webpage: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/school-nutrition-standards-updates 

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1. Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
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