Child Nutrition CN Labels and Crediting Foods

1. Child Nutrition (CN) Labels and Crediting Foods 1

2. Child Nutrition (CN) Label The CN label states a product's contribution toward the CACFP meal pattern requirements. When products are combinations of ingredients such as chicken nuggets, corn dogs or pizza purchased, there is no way to disassemble the product and weigh and measure the ingredients to determine the amount of M/MA, F/V and/or G/B that may be credited. CN labels provide this necessary crediting information. 2

3. Product Analysis Sheet A combination food may also be credited when a product analysis sheet is on file. It must include a statement of the amount of cooked lean meat/meat alternate, bread/bread alternate and/or fruit/vegetable components in each serving of the food. This sheet must be signed by an official of the manufacturer (not a salesperson). 3 Some food manufacturers who do not participate in the CN labeling program through USDA may still be able to provide product analysis sheets that specify the composition of their products.Some food manufacturers who do not participate in the CN labeling program through USDA may still be able to provide product analysis sheets that specify the composition of their products.

4. 4 Go over CN label. For lunch: 1-2 year olds = 3 chicken nuggets 3-5 year olds = 4 chicken nuggets 6-12 year olds = 5 chicken nuggets With these serving sizes, the children would be getting the right amount of bread/grain. On the production records, for CN labeled products, you may write the number of bags you prepared, as long as you list the amount of the product in each bag. For example, since there are 5 nuggets per serving and there are 51 servings per bag, there are 255 nuggets in each bag. You need to keep this information with the label too. Go over CN label. For lunch: 1-2 year olds = 3 chicken nuggets 3-5 year olds = 4 chicken nuggets 6-12 year olds = 5 chicken nuggets With these serving sizes, the children would be getting the right amount of bread/grain. On the production records, for CN labeled products, you may write the number of bags you prepared, as long as you list the amount of the product in each bag. For example, since there are 5 nuggets per serving and there are 51 servings per bag, there are 255 nuggets in each bag. You need to keep this information with the label too.

5. 5 Go over CN label. For lunch: 1-2 year olds = ½ corn dog (or 1 corn dog) 3-5 year olds = 1 corn dog 6-12 year olds = 1 corn dog By serving 1 corn dog, a 6-12 year old child would be getting twice the amount of bread/grain required (1 corn dog = 2 servings of bread alternate). By serving the same 1 corn dog to 1-5 year olds, they’d be getting 4 times the amount of bread/grain (because they only are required to get ½ serving of bread/grain). Again, keep the full label on file because it gives the total count of corn dogs in the bag (48) or you can figure it out from the serving size times how many servings are in the bag as shown here. Go over CN label. For lunch: 1-2 year olds = ½ corn dog (or 1 corn dog) 3-5 year olds = 1 corn dog 6-12 year olds = 1 corn dog By serving 1 corn dog, a 6-12 year old child would be getting twice the amount of bread/grain required (1 corn dog = 2 servings of bread alternate). By serving the same 1 corn dog to 1-5 year olds, they’d be getting 4 times the amount of bread/grain (because they only are required to get ½ serving of bread/grain). Again, keep the full label on file because it gives the total count of corn dogs in the bag (48) or you can figure it out from the serving size times how many servings are in the bag as shown here.

6. 6 Go over CN label. For lunch: 1-2 year olds = 2 links 3-5 year olds = 3 links 6-12 year olds = 4 links Here the label tells you that a box or bag contains 160 links. Go over CN label. For lunch: 1-2 year olds = 2 links 3-5 year olds = 3 links 6-12 year olds = 4 links Here the label tells you that a box or bag contains 160 links.

7. Sample Cheat Sheet 7 Once you buy a CN-labeled product, you only need to cut the CN label off of the 1st box purchased and keep that on file. Or keep the product analysis sheet on file. As long as you continue to buy the same product, you can use that label on file as a reference. It is recommended to create a “cheat sheet” for the combination food items on the menus based on the CN label for the product you have purchased. You may also include other food items like snack foods or F/V’s into the chart. You may determine the amount of bread/grain to serve from the What’s In A Meal charts on pages VIII-4-5 and the label information on the package. See the chart above as an example. As long as the same products are used, the food preparer could reference the cheat sheet to determine how much total food to prepare at each meal.Once you buy a CN-labeled product, you only need to cut the CN label off of the 1st box purchased and keep that on file. Or keep the product analysis sheet on file. As long as you continue to buy the same product, you can use that label on file as a reference. It is recommended to create a “cheat sheet” for the combination food items on the menus based on the CN label for the product you have purchased. You may also include other food items like snack foods or F/V’s into the chart. You may determine the amount of bread/grain to serve from the What’s In A Meal charts on pages VIII-4-5 and the label information on the package. See the chart above as an example. As long as the same products are used, the food preparer could reference the cheat sheet to determine how much total food to prepare at each meal.

8. 8 This is what a production record should look like (exact amounts of items listed as well as the nature of the product. For example, raw hamburger). For CN labeled products, just putting number of bags is OK as long as you list the total amount of the product in each bag (see example), but should be more specific with other products.This is what a production record should look like (exact amounts of items listed as well as the nature of the product. For example, raw hamburger). For CN labeled products, just putting number of bags is OK as long as you list the total amount of the product in each bag (see example), but should be more specific with other products.

9. Crediting CheesesA Quiz… 9

10. Is this creditable? 10 The US Food & Drug Administration does not maintain a standard of identity for "Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product”. The US Food & Drug Administration does not maintain a standard of identity for "Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product”.

11. Is this creditable? 11 Pasteurized process cheese, which is made from one or more cheeses (excluding certain cheeses such as cream cheese and cottage cheese but including American cheese), and which may contain one or more specified "optional ingredients" (includes both dairy and nondairy items). Pasteurized process cheese, which is made from one or more cheeses (excluding certain cheeses such as cream cheese and cottage cheese but including American cheese), and which may contain one or more specified "optional ingredients" (includes both dairy and nondairy items).

12. Is this creditable? 12 A 2oz serving of cheese spread = 1 oz meat alternateA 2oz serving of cheese spread = 1 oz meat alternate

13. Is this creditable? 13

14. 14 Sample CN label for cheese sauce. It says that each 4 ounce serving (by weight) of cheese sauce provides 2 ounces of meat alternate.Sample CN label for cheese sauce. It says that each 4 ounce serving (by weight) of cheese sauce provides 2 ounces of meat alternate.

15. Is this creditable? 15

16. Is this creditable? 16

17. Is this creditable? 17 Pasteurized process cheese food, which is made from not less than 51% by final weight of one or more "optional cheese ingredients" (similar to the cheeses available for Pasteurized process cheese) mixed with one or more "optional dairy ingredients" (milk, whey, etc.), and which may contain one or more specified "optional ingredients" (nondairy). A 2oz serving of cheese food = 1 oz meat alternate Pasteurized process cheese food, which is made from not less than 51% by final weight of one or more "optional cheese ingredients" (similar to the cheeses available for Pasteurized process cheese) mixed with one or more "optional dairy ingredients" (milk, whey, etc.), and which may contain one or more specified "optional ingredients" (nondairy). A 2oz serving of cheese food = 1 oz meat alternate

18. Is this creditable? 18

19. Is this creditable? 19

20. Is this creditable? 20

21. Is this creditable? 21

22. Creditable Cheeses Cheese Food (contains at least 51% cheese) Cheese Spread Natural Cheese Pasteurized Process Cheese (100% cheese) 22

23. Non-Creditable Cheeses Imitation cheese Cheese Product (contains <51% cheese) Velveeta 23