CACFP Fluid Milk Exemption Requests

This web page provides guidance for Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) operators who cannot serve the fluid milk component due to a temporary or continuing emergency.

What is a fluid milk exemption?

A temporary or continuing fluid milk exemption granted by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) CACFP Branch allows operators to provide CACFP meals without the fluid milk component, with less than the minimum serving size of the fluid milk component, or with an alternate form of fluid milk during a temporary or continuing emergency and still claim the meals for reimbursement.

Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 226.20(e) provides State agencies with the authority to authorize CACFP meals to be served without the fluid milk component or with an alternate form of fluid milk, during a temporary or continuing emergency. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Policy Memo CACFP 01-2024 Clarification of Allowable Flexibilities for Child Nutrition Programs Experiencing Milk Supply Shortages provides additional guidance on this flexibility.




Operators may request a fluid milk exemption on the first day of the emergency, on any day while the emergency is occurring, or after the emergency ends. Operators may be able to revise claims to include meals served without the fluid milk component due to an emergency after receiving an approved fluid milk exemption from the CDSS. For information on adjusting claims, access the CDSS Claim Submission Deadlines web page.






 

Contact

For questions about fluid milk exemptions, contact the CDSS CACFP Nutrition Team at CACFPMealPatterns@dss.ca.gov.

 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. 
Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

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Contact Us

For questions about temporary fluid milk exemptions, contact the CDSS CACFP Nutrition Team at CACFPMealPatterns@dss.ca.gov.


Last updated: May 2025