Unannounced Inspection

[sharlan]

Thank you for sharing, Crystal. I don't belong to a food program, nor will I join one. But I will read the manual.

[mom2many]

Actually, the food program monitor is incorrect. It became law on January 1st:

1596.808. (a) Commencing January 1, 2012, except as provided in
subdivisions (b) and (c), a licensed child day care facility shall comply with
all of the following requirements for beverages served by the day care
provider to children in the provider’s care:
(1) Whenever milk is served, serve only lowfat (1 percent) milk or nonfat
milk to children two years of age or older.
(2) Limit juice to not more than one serving per day of 100-percent juice.
(3) Serve no beverages with added sweeteners, either natural or artificial.
“Beverages with added sweeteners” does not include infant formula or
complete balanced nutritional products designed for children.
(4) Make clean and safe drinking water readily available and accessible
for consumption throughout the day.

I just emailed my food monitor rep for the 2nd time regarding this. The mandatory training I attended was just last month and ONLY the 1% milk was discussed. They actually told us we could use flavorings to make the milk more appealing and said nothing about limiting juice.

I have been with this food program for over 20 years and they have always been on top of things and keeping us informed of changes and new policies, so when she told me the California Advocates are merely recommending this, I had no reason to doubt it.

I am anxious to hear what her response will be to all of this!

[sahm2three]

What are they willing to acept as proof of the fire drill? I have woried for sometime that I can not prove we had a fire dril? I do write them down is the realy enougph. I am in Santa Clara County and like I said they told me one or twice a year.

We have to do 3 fire drills a year and a tornado drill a year and I just write them in my sign in/out sheets.

[sharlan]

I just emailed my food monitor rep for the 2nd time regarding this. The mandatory training I attended was just last month and ONLY the 1% milk was discussed. They actually told us we could use flavorings to make the milk more appealing and said nothing about limiting juice.

I have been with this food program for over 20 years and they have always been on top of things and keeping us informed of changes and new policies, so when she told me the California Advocates are merely recommending this, I had no reason to doubt it.

I am anxious to hear what her response will be to all of this!

Tell her to check AB2084.

[mom2many]

Tell her to check AB2084.

I had done that this past July and did it again just now. I actually copy and pasted it to her email this time, so she could read it herself. Last month she was so adamant that it wasn't a "law", but clearly the Gov did sign it in 2010, so I'm not sure why she told me that.

My food program is conducting it's mandatory meetings with all of the providers right now and mine was the first one to be held. I wanted to make sure they were giving the providers the correct info, since it contradicted what licensing was saying!

[Country Kids]

Why wouldn't your food program know what your state required? I just don't get that. I do think though the state needs to let the food program run the food portion and they do the rest.

Another thing I don't understand is why isn't the food program the same for all 50 states? Its the same agency!

[sharlan]

I had done that this past July and did it again just now. I actually copy and pasted it to her email this time, so she could read it herself. Last month she was so adamant that it wasn't a "law", but clearly the Gov did sign it in 2010, so I'm not sure why she told me that.

My food program is conducting it's mandatory meetings with all of the providers right now and mine was the first one to be held. I wanted to make sure they were giving the providers the correct info, since it contradicted what licensing was saying!

I'm not really sure what the difference is between a "law" and an "Assembly Bill".

[sharlan]

According to wikipedia a bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature.[1] A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute.

[daycare]

Why wouldn't your food program know what your state required? I just don't get that. I do think though the state needs to let the food program run the food portion and they do the rest.

Another thing I don't understand is why isn't the food program the same for all 50 states? Its the same agency!

But being in the food program is not mandatory e
Where as all state licensing rules are.

[sharlan]

Why wouldn't your food program know what your state required? I just don't get that. I do think though the state needs to let the food program run the food portion and they do the rest.

Another thing I don't understand is why isn't the food program the same for all 50 states? Its the same agency!

Personally, I think the state should stay out of it. But they didn't ask my opinion. If I want to serve the kids soda 3xs a day (I don't), that should be between me and the parents.

[Crystal]

I believe one of the reasons for the state to do this was because school's were selling soda, juice, candy etc on campus. When they began requiring school's to remove vending machines and discontinue sales of these items, they enacted it for child care as well. The reasoning is the obsesity epidemic amongst children. I for one fully support it. We may not be able to stop parents from giving it in excessive amounts ( I am NOT saying all parents do this) but we can require that child care providers, where children spend a vast majority of their time, to limit it. I have heard of providers giving kool-aid all day long, which I am sure is not the norm, but it stops people like that from giving kids stuff they really don't need, nor should be having.

[mom2many]

Personally, I think the state should stay out of it. But they didn't ask my opinion. If I want to serve the kids soda 3xs a day (I don't), that should be between me and the parents.

I agree! I'm all for healthy food choices, but the state should let the USDA figure out what is okay to serve and stick to their own business! My food program rep is forwarding all of the info I sent her this morning to her state reviewer. She is going to let me know what transpires!

Once again, I think this forum is a great resource to us as providers! It's great being able to communicate and learn from others!

[daycare]

I agree! I'm all for healthy food choices, but the state should let the USDA figure out what is okay to serve and stick to their own business! My food program rep is forwarding all of the info I sent her this morning to her state reviewer. She is going to let me know what transpires!

Once again, I think this forum is a great resource to us as providers! It's great being able to communicate and learn from others!

I hear what you are saying. But the thing is that unless you are on a USDA food program they would have no way to control it.

What is sad about CA is that it is extremely easy to get licensed. AND, not to sound horrible (don't flame me) a lot of the people here in CA are from other countries that don't have a good education. Trust me, I see them every time I go for a cert class or something of this sort. They are asking questions that make me want to fall out of my chair. Ones that you and I would say "REALLY"?? are you REALLY asking that question??

So I do think it is proper for the state to step in and lay down some kind of ground rules. There are people that have a great sense of logic, sadly, there are a some that do not.

[DCBlessings27]

I hear what you are saying. But the thing is that unless you are on a USDA food program they would have no way to control it.

What is sad about CA is that it is extremely easy to get licensed. AND, not to sound horrible (don't flame me) a lot of the people here in CA are from other countries that don't have a good education. Trust me, I see them every time I go for a cert class or something of this sort. They are asking questions that make me want to fall out of my chair. Ones that you and I would say "REALLY"?? are you REALLY asking that question??

So I do think it is proper for the state to step in and lay down some kind of ground rules. There are people that have a great sense of logic, sadly, there are a some that do not.

CA is not the only state to adopt some food/drink rules. KS requires 1% or skim milk and basically follows the same regulations as the food program. That's why you might as well be on a food program here because the requirements are the exact same (without the pay or inspections though). The 1% milk didn't start until May, but they've always had food regulations that were similar to the food program.

For the original post from August--I have to do monthly fire drills and tornado drills from April-October. I wish it was only 2 per year.

KS can check too to see if we're serving the correct milk. All the surveyor would have to do is open the fridge. I've never had a surveyor stay for a meal; she justs asks what I served or will be serving.

[DCMama]

I am scare of inspection I am so not prepare for that. But at the same time I do not have any official enrollment right now, so I wonder how the inspection would even work...oh well.