Article Release Date 10/22/2020
Due to the coronavirus pandemic and a recent court decision relating to the Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains and Sodium Requirements Final Rule, this regulation was vacated and the school meal patterns returned to the requirements of the 2012 final rule, Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Also, due to the coronavirus pandemic, FNS waived the requirements to serve meals that meet the meal pattern requirements during SY 2020-2021.
Last year, the approved software systems such as CNCentral were required to update functionality to reflect the Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains and Sodium Requirements Final Rule, specifically related to whole grain-rich, sodium, and flavored milk requirements. CNCentral's functionality was updated in accordance to that rule.
At this time, USDA is not requiring that software functionality be reverted back to the standards of the 2012 final rule. Due to this, CNCentral still analyzes menu compliance according to the Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains and Sodium Requirements Final Rule. If the USDA changes their recommendation, CNCentral will update it's functionality at that time according to the rules set forth by the USDA.
If you have any questions regarding USDA's announcement or requirements for SY 2020/21, please refer to Questions 7 & 8 of SP 24-2020 Questions and Answers for the Child Nutrition Programs during School Year 2020-2021 found here for more information: https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/resource-files/SP24_CACFP13_SFSP13-2020s.pdf