View Rule

This final rule will implement section 221 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-296; the Act). It requires USDA to review and update, no less frequently than once every 10 years, requirements for meals served under the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to ensure those meals are consistent with the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans and relevant nutrition science.

Statement of Need:

Section 221 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-296, the Act) requires USDA to review and update, no less frequently than once every 10 years, requirements for meals served under the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to ensure those meals are consistent with the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans and relevant nutrition science. The Act also clarifies the purpose of the program, restricts the use of food as a punishment or reward, outlines requirements for milk and milk substitution, and introduces requirements for the availability of water. This rule establishes the criteria and procedures for implementing these provisions of the Act.

Summary of the Legal Basis:

Section 221 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-296).

Alternatives:

There are several instances throughout the proposed rule and its associated Regulatory Impact Analysis that offered alternatives for review and comment to the various criteria and procedures discussed.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits:

This rule will improve the nutritional quality of meals served and the overall health of children participating in the CACFP. Most CACFP meals are served to children from low-income households. As described in the Regulatory Impact Analysis, the baseline is the current cost of food to CACFP providers. The rule more closely aligns the meals served in CACFP with the Dietary Guidelines in an essentially cost-neutral manner. USDA estimates that the rule will result in a very small decrease in the cost for CACFP providers to prepare and serve meals to program participants, and may result in a small, temporary increase in labor and administrative costs to implement the rule. Therefore, it is projected that no meaningful net change in cost will occur as a result of this rule.

Risks:

None identified.