New Food Program Rules

[Josiegirl]

I gotta say, that's crazy. Especially if apples are okay and watermelon isn't. Who makes these rules??

[LK5kids]

Right! Many apples are much harder than watermelon! What the???? If honey dew and canteloupe are ripe they are also very soft!

Raspberries are soft. I suppose it's because they are small and round. Crazy!


What about grapes? Now they can be a choking hazard!

What a shame!

[LysesKids]

EXACTLY! :confused:

And my families want to know why I dropped the FP... TN requires that infants be given the opportunity to self feed part of their meal once sitting, but if they limit what you can feed them, then what is the point of self feeding? I'm glad I am Licensed exempt for this reason (not to mention the QRIS crap)

[MarinaVanessa]

I would reach out directly to the USDA Food Program for clarification. I would give them the name of the food program sponsor who gave you this info as well as the name of the organization,address and telephone number. The USDA is the one who puts the rules out, the food program sponsors interpret the info. Sometimes you just have to go a little higher up when organizations try to be a little more ... ambitious.

If it's licensing that's saying this then I'd ask licensing to give you a copy of the regulation that says that you can't serve these foods. They're known to be ambitious also ::

[Annalee]

And my families want to know why I dropped the FP... TN requires that infants be given the opportunity to self feed part of their meal once sitting, but if they limit what you can feed them, then what is the point of self feeding? I'm glad I am Licensed exempt for this reason (not to mention the QRIS crap)

My FP has no issues with what we serve nor how we cut it up...they even encourage to put some infants on table food if they are able.....only issue I have with FP is if a child isn't approved soon enough they can't be counted for up to a month....that deadline is unrealistic IMHO. The stickler for me is the memos from Licensing and QRIS.

[MarinaVanessa]

I did a little bit of digging for my own curiosity and read a little bit and found something that I think may be the source of where they're getting their info. The guide is intended for infants under 12 months of age that participate in the Food Program.

"Warning About Vegetables and Fruits That May Cause Choking
Due to the risk of choking, do not feed babies the following
vegetables and fruits:
• Raw vegetables (including green peas, string beans, celery, carrot, etc.);
• Cooked or raw whole corn kernels;
• Whole pieces of canned fruit;
• Hard pieces of raw fruit such as apple, pear, melon;
• Whole grapes, berries, cherries, melon balls, or cherry and grape tomatoes (cut these foods into quarters, with pits removed, before feeding to older babies); and
• Uncooked dried fruit (including raisins)."

So even though the recommendation is not to serve them raw, hard or whole they say to cut into quarters. Maybe you can show this to your sponsor/analyst.
Team Nutrition USDA Feeding Infants: A Guide for Use
in the Child Nutrition Programs
Page 50

Here is everything that talks about food in relation to choking in the same guide:
"... Peanut butter, other nut or seed butters, nuts, and seeds should not be fed to babies and are not reimbursable as meal components in the Infant Meal Pattern. These foods cause choking and may cause an allergic reaction in some babies." - page 51

"“Baby food” meat sticks (which look like miniature hot dogs)—these are not reimbursable because, by the manufacturer’s declaration, they are designed to match the skills of children over 12 months of age. Hot dogs or similarly shaped products are not recommended for babies because they can cause choking, even when cut into round slices." page 52

"Cheese may be introduced to infants 8 months or older. Small thin slices or strips of cheese are easier and safer. Do not feed chunks of cheese, which can cause choking." - page 53

"Modify the texture of cooked dry beans and dry peas for a baby (cooked whole beans or peas could cause choking)." - page 53

"Only serve bread or crackers if the parent, in consultation with the baby’s doctor, agrees for them to be served and after they have previously been introduced to the baby with no problems. If any of the above foods are served, prepare them in a form that a baby can eat without choking." - page 54

"AVOID
Do not feed babies these foods, which present a choking risk:
• Snack potato or corn chips, pretzels, or cheese twists,
• Cookies or granola bars,
• Crackers or breads with seeds, nut pieces, or whole grain kernels such as wheat berries, and
• Whole kernels of cooked rice, barley, or wheat; these should be finely ground or mashed before feeding to babies."
- Page 54

"Do Not Feed Babies These Foods:
.... Hard pieces of raw vegetable or raw fruit—they can cause choking and be difficult to digest.
.... Peanut butter and other nut and seed butters (e.g., soy nut, almond, cashew, or sunflower seed butter) and nuts and seeds. These foods can cause choking and may cause allergic reactions in some babies." - page 57

"Foods to Avoid That Can Cause Choking
• tough meat or large chunks of meat,
• peanuts or other nuts and seeds (such as pumpkin or
sunflower),
• peanut butter or other nut or seed butters,
• candy (e.g., hard candy, jelly beans, caramels, chewing gum),
• popcorn,
• hot dogs, sausages, or toddler hot dogs (even when cut into round slices),
• potato and corn chips and similar snack foods,
• pretzels,
• chunks of cheese,

Nothing in the guide said that you couldn't serve the foods, just that you had to cook it, cut it into quarters no bigger than 1/4" or mash it.

[daycarediva]

So I did go to the CACFP website to see who I could contact. While on the site, I read information that appeared to say providers can still serve these foods; they just can't be served whole.

I went back to my food program rep and asked for further clarification. Apparently, they just recently received clarification themselves. It turns out, it's a state mandate so it applies to those of us who live in MA. We will no longer be allowed to serve berries, melons or cherry/grape tomatoes to children under 4 in any form. Apparently, providers (who go through YFC, at least) should be getting notification soon. Gotta love this state.

That is insane.

Apples but not watermelon?

Kiwi but not raspberries?

THE STATE/government I tell ya!

[e.j.]

What about grapes? Now they can be a choking hazard!

To my knowledge, grapes were taken off the menu years ago. I was told by my food rep at the time to just stop serving them at all since we can't serve them to kids under 4 and most of my kids are 4 and under. I thought they were being overly cautious at the time since I practically minced them any time I served them but, whatever. I figured I wasn't going to lose sleep over the issue. It's getting ridiculous now, though.

[e.j.]

I would reach out directly to the USDA Food Program for clarification. I would give them the name of the food program sponsor who gave you this info as well as the name of the organization,address and telephone number. The USDA is the one who puts the rules out, the food program sponsors interpret the info. Sometimes you just have to go a little higher up when organizations try to be a little more ... ambitious.

If it's licensing that's saying this then I'd ask licensing to give you a copy of the regulation that says that you can't serve these foods. They're known to be ambitious also ::

I did a little bit of digging for my own curiosity and read a little bit and found something that I think may be the source of where they're getting their info. The guide is intended for infants under 12 months of age that participate in the Food Program.

Thanks for looking further into this. I actually had found the same information which is why I went back to my fp rep to question her on it. I did get an update this morning from her saying they're looking into this further. Apparently, a decision has been made to allow melon as long as it's sliced and not "balled" so there's progress! We still can't serve berries, though. The agency is going to "appeal the decision to the state" and they're trying to find "contact information at the state level" so providers can complain. If that doesn't work, I just might take your advice and go directly to the USDA food program to ask for their take on it. I'm not one who usually goes looking for a fight but this rule just makes no sense at all and shouldn't stand as is - especially since the rest of the country apparently can serve berries!

[e.j.]

And my families want to know why I dropped the FP... TN requires that infants be given the opportunity to self feed part of their meal once sitting, but if they limit what you can feed them, then what is the point of self feeding? I'm glad I am Licensed exempt for this reason (not to mention the QRIS crap)

If being licensed exempt were an option in this state, I'd be there with you!

I've been wondering, though...if QRIS becomes mandatory in every state, as some have said will happen eventually, would that end the option of being licensed exempt in the states that currently include it as an option?

[e.j.]

Just in case there are providers from MA who are interested....According to the Yours For Children Facebook page, they have been communicating with the MA DESE Office of Food and Nutrition Programs to get clarification on the berry/melon issue. They said they will be issuing further guidance on the new rule as soon as they get more information.

[e.j.]

I'm posting the most recent clarification from my food program. From what I understand, this is not just a MA regulation. If it doesn't impact you now, it will at some point. I've been told that all states will be implementing these rules at some point.

Clarifications received to the Choking Foods Rule.
The good news is that MOST berries are ok, see specific list below for berries that are NOT ok. Melon is ok, it may NOT be served in BALL form. Please see list below. All in all the changes are not that big.
Choking Foods:
Based on guidance from the USDA, foods that pose the highest risk for choking are foods that, "are round, tube-shaped, small, hard, thick and sticky, smooth, slippery, or easily molded to stick to the airway." In order to align with Massachusetts state licensing and USDA's recommendations, OFNP's policy restricts the serving of the following foods to children under 4 years of age:
* Hot dogs, sausages, sausage links, or similar processed
food items
* Grapes, cherries, melon balls (melon is ok as long as it is NOT in “BALL FORM"), or cherry and grape tomatoes.
* Specific berries - kiwi, raspberries, blackberries, goji berries.
* Peanuts, nuts, and seeds (for example sunflower or pumpkin seeds)
* Peanut butter and nut butters
* Dried fruit such as raisins or cranberries
There are many other items that are not included in the above list which may still pose a choking hazard due to their shape (tube-shaped, round, small) or texture (hard, thick and sticky, smooth, slippery, or easily molded).
To clarify, the foods listed in the bulleted list, are not to be served to children under the age of 4, even using alternate food preparation methods.
We will work together on helping you choose alternate foods to feed children under 4.

[MarinaVanessa]

From what I understand, this is not just a MA regulation. If it doesn't impact you now, it will at some point. I've been told that all states will be implementing these rules at some point.[/I]

Hmm, that's very interesting. I'l have to keep an ear out for changes like these. Out of curiosity, how many other providers here have heard of these changes? Either that they are coming or they are already in place?

I'm California ... no word yet on any of these.

[Blackcat31]

That's it.

I am serving everything in those ****-able pouches from now on.

The kids can all pretend they are on a spaceship to the moon and have to eat astronaut food.

[Rockgirl]

That's it.

I am serving everything is ****-able pouches from now on.

The kids can all pretend they are on a spaceship to the moon and have to eat astronaut food.

And think of how EASY it will be!