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Counting Purchased Combination Foods and

CheesesOn the Child and Adult

Care Food Program (CACFP)

Breaded Chicken Nuggets, patties, tenders

Breaded Popcorn chicken Breaded fish sticks, patties,

shapes, nuggets Corn dogs and

mini corn dogs Pizza (any type) Canned and frozen ravioli Frozen soups

for any component 2

~ Purchased Combination foods ~

What are they?

Potato pancakes Breakfast bites Lasagna, quesadillas Chili and Chili Mac Chicken pot pies Cheese sauce Pizza rolls Egg rolls

To name a few…

Meat/Meat alternates with Binders and Extenders

Check the ingredients label first for these types of ingredients

Purchased food items such as

Alternate protein products (APPs) like soy protein isolate

Various types of flour Cereals Modified food

starches Dried milk Carrageenan

Salisbury Steak Meatballs Hamburger Taco Meat Riblettes Some sausages Vegetable burgers

Must be treated like purchased combination food items...

~ Purchased Combination Foods ~

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Combination food items can only be counted on the CACFP when the actual content (i.e. meat/meat alternate, bread, etc.) is known and documented.

Most products cannot be taken apart to weigh and measure the ingredients separately for counting the amount of meat/meat alternate (M/MA), fruit/vegetable (F/V) and bread/grain (G/B).

~ Purchased Combination Foods ~

Acceptable documentation to count purchased combination foods are:

The actual Child Nutrition (CN) label marked on the product, or

A manufacturer’s product formulation statement signed by an official of the manufacturer

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~ Child Nutrition (CN) Labels ~

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USDA must evaluate a product’s formulation to determine how much it can count toward the meal pattern requirements. Once approved by USDA, the manufacturers can state the meal contribution within a CN label on the packaging of the product.

They clearly identify how much a product can count toward the meal pattern requirements.

They provide a warranty against meal disallowance if the CN labeled product is used according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Proper documentation of a CN-labeled product is an actual label on the purchased product carton

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~ Child Nutrition (CN) Labels ~

The CN logo, which is a distinct border;

The meal pattern contribution statement;

A unique 6-digit product identification number (assigned by USDA/FNS) appearing in the upper right hand corner of the CN logo;

The USDA/FNS authorization statement;

The month and year of final FNS approval

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~ Child Nutrition (CN) Labels ~A CN label will always contain the following:

~ Product Formulation Statements ~

They are information sheets obtained from the manufacturer with a detailed explanation of what the product actually contains and the amount of each ingredient by weight.

It should contain the original signature of an authorized company representative, not a sales representative’ ssignature.

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~ Product Formulation Statements ~

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CN Labels = Healthy?

CN labels do NOT indicate that a product is healthy

Used predominately on processed meat and meat alternate products which are often high in sodium, fat and calories

Healthier options are becoming available

If using CN labeled foods, always read the Nutrition Facts panel to choose healthier options

They are not the nutrition facts labels or ingredients lists

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~ Child Nutrition (CN) Labels ~

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How to read and use CN labels…

Two 1.00 oz breaded fish sticks provide 1.00 oz meat equivalent and .50 serving of bread alternate

Meat equivalent calculation: 1-2 year olds (1 oz) =2 fish stks sticks 3-5 year olds (1.5 oz) =3 fish stks sticks 6-12 year olds (2 oz) =4 fish stks sticks

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~ Fish Stick Example ~

Each 2.00 oz fully cooked beef patty provides 1.75 oz of meat equivalent Meat equivalent calculation: 1-2 year olds (1 oz) = ¾ burger (round up to 1) 3-5 year olds (1.5 oz) = 1 burger 6-12 year olds (2 oz) = 1&1/4 burger (round up to 1 & ½ )

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~ Precooked Beef Patty Example ~

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This 4 oz Corn Dog provides 2.0 oz equivalent meat and 2 servings bread alternate for Child Nutrition Meal Pattern Requirements.

Meat equivalent calculation: 1-2 year olds (1 oz) = ½ corn dog 3-5 year olds (1.5 oz) = ¾ corn dog 6-12 year olds (2 oz) = 1 corn dog

Five .88oz breaded fully cooked chicken nuggets (2.43 oz Total) provide 2.00 oz equivalent meat/meat alternate and 1.00 serving bread alternate for Child Nutrition Meal Pattern Requirements.

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Meat Equivalent Calculation:1-2 yr olds (1 oz) = 3 nuggets; 3-5 yr olds (1.5 oz) = 4 nuggets; 6-12 yr olds (2 oz) = 5 nuggets

Crediting Cheeses

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Creditable Cheeses

Natural Cheese

Pasteurized Process Cheese (100% cheese)

2 oz of the following items provides 1 oz meat/meat alternate:

Cheese Food (contains at least 51% cheese)

Cheese Spread

Cottage Cheese Ricotta Cheese

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The following are examples of creditable cheese items…

PasteurizedProcessAmericanCheese

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Cheese Spread2 oz = 1 oz)

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Natural Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese Sticks

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2 oz = 1 oz

LightPasteurizedCheese

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Requires CN label

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Non-Creditable Cheeses

Imitation cheese Cheese Product

(contains <51% cheese) Velveeta

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The following are examples of non-creditable cheese items…

PasteurizedPreparedCheeseProduct

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Pasteurized PreparedCheese Product

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Imitation Mozzarella Cheese

Pasteurized PreparedCheese Product

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Thank you!