School Breakfast Program
*Revised* FY23 Food Service Equipment Grant Awards
*Original memo posted August 6, 2024. Please reference the most up-to-date information posted below.*
The list of applicants that have been selected to receive the FY 2023 National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Equipment Assistance Grant for School Food Authorities (SFAs) can be found in the link below.
Geographic Preference Option Questions & Answers
The full USDA memo SP 24-2024, CACFP 10-2024, SFSP 14-2024 can be found at: https://www.cn.nysed.gov/sites/cn/files/geographic-preference-option-qa.pdf.
Waiver Request Notification
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is requesting to waive National School Lunch Program (NSLP) requirements at 42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(1)(A) and 1758(a)(3), and under Program regulations at 7 CFR sections 210.10(e) and 210.10(l), and School Breakfast Program (SBP) requirements at 42 U.S.C. 1773(b)(1)(A), and under Program regulations at 7 CFR 220.8(l), to allow school food authorities to offer non-congregate school meals to students fasting during Ramadan in school year (SY) 2024-2025.
Waiver Request Notification
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is requesting prospective waivers for non-congregate meal service in school year (SY) 2024-25 for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and the NSLP Seamless Summer Option (SSO).
Providing School Meals for Students Observing Ramadan
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is now approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to offer waivers to allow school food authorities (SFAs) to serve non-congregate meals to students who celebrate Ramadan. During Ramadan, students fast or refrain from eating during typical daylight hours, including when school breakfast and/or lunch is served. These waivers allow SFAs to provide students who attend school and are fasting during Ramadan with non-congregate breakfast and lunch meals to consume after daylight hours.
These waivers may only be used:
Wayne Farms, LLC, Recalls RTE Chicken Products
On December 7, 2023, Wayne Farms, LLC, of Decatur, Alabama, recalled approximately 1,377 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken breast products that may be undercooked. This recall does
CDC Food Safety Alert: Cantaloupes
For your awareness, a CDC food safety alert regarding an outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to cantaloupes has been updated. Seven children attended childcare centers before they got sick. Children under 5 can get very sick from Salmonella.
Crediting Traditional Indigenous Foods
FNS is pleased to release TA 01-2024: Crediting Traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs. This memorandum is now available at https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/crediting-traditional-indigenous-foods and supersedes TA 01-2015: Child Nutrition Programs and Traditional Foods.
Allowable Flexibilities for School Meal Programs Experiencing Milk Supply Shortages
Due to the unexpected nationwide shortage of paper milk cartons, many School Food Authorities (SFAs) are not able to obtain milk in half pints for their school meals programs. Although SFAs are expected to meet the fluid milk requirements to the greatest extent possible, supply chain disruptions, including disruptions that limit milk variety or affect serving size, are considered a temporary emergency condition. In these instances, SFAs are allowed to serve and claim meals during the emergency period by: