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 food components for a reimbursable meal and snack were included.
   
• Adequate portion sizes for all age groups were served for all meal types.
   
• Milk types (unflavored or flavored) and fat content (whole, 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.
   
• Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals and yogurt served meet sugar limits.
   
• 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 exactly match the name in the “Food as Purchased, AP” column in the FBG.
   
• Recipes are available for foods made from scratch. To demonstrate that the minimum serving size is provided for each required component at meals and snacks, recipes should include (at a minimum):
     
  • Quantity of each creditable ingredient
  • Serving size
  • Number of servings

Regulations, Policies, and Resources

Regulations

• 7 CFR, Section 226
   
• California Healthy Beverages Act, California Health and Safety Code Section 1596.808

USDA Policies

• CACFP 17–2016, Nutrition Requirements for Fluid Milk and Fluid Milk Substitutions in the CACFP, Q&A
   
• 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 14–2017, SFSP 10–2017, Modifications to Accommodate Disabilities in the CACFP and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
   
• CACFP 17–2017, Documenting Meals in the CACFP
   
• CACFP 09–2018, Grain Requirements in the CACFP, Q&A
   
•  SP 37–2019, CACFP 16–2019, Questions and Answers on the Final Rule Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements
   
• CACFP 11–2023, Feeding Infants and Meal Pattern Requirements in the CACFP, Q&A
   
• SP 02-2024, CACFP 02-2024, SFSP 02-2024, Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products in the School Meal Programs, CACFP, and SFSP

Resources

• CDSS CACFP Bulletin 01-2020, Documentation Requirements for the CACFP Meal Patterns
   
• CDSS CACFP Administrative Manual
   
• CDSS CACFP Meal Patterns
   
• CDSS Documenting a Menu with Serving Sizes
   
• CDSS Meal Modifications in the CACFP
   
• USDA FBG for Child Nutrition Programs
   
• USDA Feeding Infants in the CACFP Guide
   
• USDA Monitoring Handbook for State Agencies

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