USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service recently published a proposed rule that the agency says will help ensure the federal child nutrition programs are properly operated.
The regulatory updates seek to strengthen and clarify the process for correcting major mismanagement problems, also called serious deficiencies, found in child nutrition programs. The proposed changes will ensure that procedures in Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program, also known as CACFP and SFSP, align with current requirements under law. The changes include providing operators a fair path to fully correct serious mismanagement problems, clarifying termination and disqualification criteria for SFSP operators, and addressing legal requirements for obtaining records of individuals who are disqualified from the program and sponsoring organizations that operate in multiple states.
USDA is also proposing a standard definition of what it means for an operator to be in “good standing,” which currently does not exist. The public is invited to comment on the proposed changes by May 21 at regulations.gov.
