CACFP Administrative Manual Section 16.1

Table of Contents
Terms, Definitions, and Acronyms

Section 16: Administrative Review Process for Compliance with the CACFP Meal Patterns

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) reviewers will verify compliance with the CACFP meal pattern requirements for two timeframes during the administrative review process:

• The month of the administrative review (Section 16.1)
• The day of the meal observation (Section 16.2)

Outlined below is the preliminary review process; however, an expanded review may occur if the reviewer considers it necessary.

16.1 Analyzing the Menu for the Month of the Administrative Review

Reviewers will identify the month of review, (defined as the last month the CACFP operator submitted a claim for reimbursement), and analyze the menu for the month of review to ensure that:

• All meal components for a reimbursable meal and snack were included. Note: Operators must document on the menu the food item served (e.g., strawberries); not the meal component (e.g., fruit).
   
• For child care and adult day care centers only: Adequate serving sizes for all age groups were documented on the menu for all meal types.
   
• Milk types (unflavored or flavored) and fat content (whole, 2 percent, 1 percent, or fat-free) of milk served was documented on the menu for each age group.
   
• Meat/meat alternates were not substituted for the grains component at breakfast more than three times per week.
   
• Fruit or vegetable juice was not served more than once each day to meet the fruit or vegetable requirement.
   
• At least one whole grain-rich (WGR) food item per day was served for children and adults (not required for infants) and documented on the menu.
   
• Grain-based desserts were not served on the menu to meet the requirement for the grains component. Note: Grain-based desserts are denoted with a superscript of 3 or 4 in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Buying Guide (FBG) Exhibit A: Grain Requirements for Child Nutrition Programs table.
   
• Deep-fat fried foods (i.e., food submerged in hot oil) prepared onsite were not on the menu as part of a reimbursable meal.
   
• For adult day care centers only, yogurt was not substituted for milk more than once per day.
   
• Child Nutrition (CN) Labels or signed product formulation statements (PFS) are available for all processed foods that are not listed in the USDA FBG (e.g., breakfast sausage, luncheon meats) and all commercially-prepared combination foods (e.g., pizza, corn dogs, chicken nuggets). Note: To credit a processed food listed in the USDA FBG, such as, chicken chili with beans, the name of the food on the product label must match the name in the “Food as Purchased, AP” column in the FBG.  
  
• Recipes that include the recipe name, quantity of each creditable ingredient (including form and preparation), serving size, and number of servings are available for the following categories of homemade foods:
    
  • Foods that only contribute to one component if other non-creditable ingredients are added in substantial amounts. Examples include cream of potato soup, meatloaf, and pieces of fruit in gelatin. 
   
  • Combination foods that contribute to more than one meal component when:
   
  • The components cannot be separated (i.e., they are combined or mixed together) and are typically, but not always, prepared in quantity. Examples include soups/stews, casseroles, and stir-fried dishes.
   
  • Only the name of the recipe, and not the individual food items that comprise the food, are listed on the menu. Examples include ‘Turkey Sandwich’, ‘Quesadilla’, and ‘Pasta with Marinara’. If each creditable food item in the recipe is documented on the menu (and serving size for child and adult centers), a recipe is not required.
   
  Note: Reviewers have the authority to request additional documentation on additional months if needed to verify compliance.

  Regulations, Policies, and Resources

  Regulations

  • Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR), § 226.15(e)(10) Institution provisions
   
  • 7 CFR § 226.17(b)(4) Child care center provisions
   
  • 7 CFR § 226.17a(o)(4) At-risk afterschool care center provisions
   
  • 7 CFR § 226.19(b)(7)(iii) Outside-school-hours care center provisions
   
  • 7 CFR § 226.19a(b)(6) Adult day care center provisions
   
  • 7 CFR § 226.20–Requirements for CACFP meals
   
  • California Healthy Beverages Act, California Health and Safety Code, § Section 1596.808
   

  USDA Policies

  • CACFP 08–2017, Q&A on the Updated Meal Pattern Requirements for the CACFP
    
   
  • CACFP 09–2017, Vegetable and Fruit Requirements in the CACFP, Q&A
   
  • CACFP 16-2017 Grain-based Desserts in the CACFP
   
  • CACFP 17–2017, Documenting Meals in the CACFP
   
  • CACFP 01-2025, Nutrition Requirements for Fluid Milk and Fluid Milk Substitutions in the CACFP, Q&A
   
  • CACFP 04-2025 Guidance for Accepting Processed Product Documentation for Meal Pattern Requirements
   
  • CACFP 05-2025, Grain Requirements in the CACFP, Q&A
   

  Resources

  • CDSS CACFP Administrative Manual, Section 9: Menu and Meal Pattern Documentation Requirements
   
  • CDSS web page CACFP Meal Patterns
   
  • USDA FBG for Child Nutrition Programs
   
  • USDA CACFP Handbooks
   
  Questions: CACFPinfo@dss.ca.gov
  This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.