Summer Food Service Program

Making Accommodations for Children with Celiac Disease

            More school food service directors/managers are making dietary accommodations for children who have been diagnosed with celiac disease.  Since this diagnosis is increasing, it is helpful for you to have a basic understanding of this illness so you and your staff can provide appropriate meals for children in your school.

Each school year, many school food authorities (SFAs) seek guidance to assist them with developing policies and plans that address keeping students with food allergies safe in the school environment.

There are several companies that have relatively inexpensive signage available for purchase to illustrate USDA's MyPlate icon and/or ways to communicate the new meal pattern. We (the New York State Education Department) do not endorse or advocate specific companies or products. I just want to let you know of available options. Some districts are laminating the USDA posters.

If you decide to order your own signage using USDA's MyPlate materials, I have provided USDA's guide and conditions for using their icon.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (the Act), Public law 111-296, clarifies requirements for participation in evaluations, studies and research in the Child Nutrition Programs.

When contracting with a Food Service Management Company (FSMC), a school food authority (SFA) has several fiduciary responsibilities that must periodically take place during the term of the contract to ensure the fiscal integrity of its child nutrition programs, for example: administrative oversight, monitoring, reviewing invoices and record keeping.

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has released its updated version of the 1995 guidance entitled Contracting with Food Service Management Companies: Guidance for School Food Authorities. This guidance provides clear information and guidance regarding the responsibilities that reside with the district or school or residential child care institution (RCCI)when it decides to contract with a Food Service Management Company (FSMC).

Any public school that intends to use a Food Service Management Company (FSMC) to run their food service operation must competitively bid for services. A non-public school, jail or residential child care institution participating in a Child Nutrition Program that wants to use a management company to manage their food service operation in whole or in part must competitively bid for those services.

State Agencies (SAs) have just received another memo from USDA reiterating the importance of School Food Authorities (SFAs) ensuring Food Service Management Company (FSMC) compliance with the procurement requirements. These requirements are established in regulations affecting the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and Special Milk Program (SMP) which became effective on November 30, 2007 and emphasizes that:

            The “And Justice for All” posters are due for revision; however, the re-printing has been delayed indefinitely.  In the interim, the 1999 “And Justice for All” posters are to be used in all programs administered with USDA funds.  Please note that text in the 2013 updated Nondiscrimination Statement required to be used on all Child Nutrition Program materials is different from text on the posters.  USDA recognizes this, but directs that the 1999 version of the poster is acceptable for display.

Section 112 of The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (the Act), Public Law 111-296, amends section 13(a) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(a)) to require that each State agency that administers the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), to the maximum extent practicable, ensures that school food authorities (SFAs) cooperate with SFSP service institutions to inform eligible families of the availability and location of free meals for students when the regular school year ends.