Meal Modifications in the CACFP

Overview

This web page provides guidance on how to accommodate meal modifications and continue to claim reimbursement for meals and snacks served to participants with disabilities and dietary needs/preferences that are not due to a disability. Note: This web page uses the word ‘meal’ which refers to both Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meals (i.e., breakfast, lunch/supper) and snacks.

Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR), §226.20(g) includes the federal requirements for modifications and variations in reimbursable CACFP meals.

To ensure compliance with federal civil rights requirements per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Instruction 113-1, CACFP operators must:

  • Include the current full USDA nondiscrimination statement, or a direct link to the full nondiscrimination statement, on the CACFP operator’s website.
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  • Notify applicants with limited English proficiency of their right to free language assistance if they have limited English proficiency and provide such free language. assistance upon request.
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  • Notify participants with disabilities of their right to free meal modifications for reasons related to disabilities and provide such meal modifications upon request.


Footnotes

1For this purpose and per California Health and Safety Code, Section 11150, the CDSS considers a state licensed healthcare professional in California to be a licensed physician, dentist, or the following healthcare professionals when acting within the scope of their ability to write prescriptions: physician assistant, nurse practitioner, naturopathic doctor, registered nurse, and out-of-state provider. CACFP institutions that operate another federal child nutrition program (CNP) in addition to the CACFP, should contact the appropriate oversight agency to determine which state licensed healthcare professionals can sign medical statements to accommodate disabilities for that CNP.

2Per the Final Rule–Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and as stated in 7 CFR, Section 226.20(g), Effective October 1, 2025, CACFP operators must accept medical statements written by RDs to request meal modifications on behalf of participants with disabilities.


This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

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Contact Us

CDSS Child and Adult Care Food Program
744 P Street, MS 9-13-290
Sacramento, CA 95814
833-559-2418
CACFPInfo@dss.ca.gov

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