Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Shell Eggs - Does not include USDA Foods
On August 18, 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued this press release about the nationwide recall of eggs for potential salmonella contamination. This recall does not involve USDA foods, but may have been purchased commercially. Read the full report here: www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm223139.htm.
Change to Food Safety Inspection Reporting for Program Year 2011
TDA is working on the TX-UNPS (Texas Unified Nutrition Programs System) project which will consolidate CNPIMS, SNAPS and TCS into one system. For the School Nutrition Programs (National School Lunch, School Breakfast, After School Care, Seamless Summer, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable, and Special Milk), the conversion to TX-UNPS will take place in March 2011. TX-UNPS will streamline many areas of reporting, including food safety inspections. We currently ask for the date of the inspection, the agency that performed the inspection and the grade of the inspection. This can get pretty involved when you have 2 inspections per school. The new system just has one screen that lists all the schools and next to each you indicate how many inspections they've had and if it's less than the requirement, they have to select a reason for not meeting the requirement. Because of this simplified data entry in TX-UNPS, TDA will not require you to enter any inspection data in CNPIMS (public/charter schools) or to submit any inspection documentation to us (private schools & RCCIs) for program year 2011. Instead, you will enter your final inspection counts for program year 2011 into TX-UNPS in the spring of 2011. If you have any questions regarding this change, please call (877) TEX-MEAL or e-mail squaremeals@texasagriculture.gov.
 Update on the Publication of Poverty Guidelines and Income Eligibility Guidelines
FNS has issued SP-30-2010; CACFP-16-2010; SFSP-14-2010: Publication of Poverty Guidelines and Income Eligibility Guidelines. This policy memo announces that the 2009-2010 IEGs will remain in place for the duration of the current school year.
2010-11 CRE Schedule
The Texas Department of Agriculture National School Lunch Program Compliance Unit has released the following 2010-11 review status. This list breaks down when a School Food Authority will be reviewed during the 2010-2011 school year. Please note: Additional reviews can be added at anytime for reasons such as counting and claiming errors, complaints, or any other reason. Please click here to see the list. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), Food and Nutrition Division has compiled this resource document, Child Nutrition Program Required Records Reminders (Reminder Binder), to assist SFAs in organizing required data to meet program guidelines and prepare for the Coordinated Review Effort (CRE). Included are key area reminders and examples of forms and information required to be maintained by all SFA's implementing the National School Lunch, Breakfast and Snack programs. Tabs are provided to organize data in a complete, easy to find manner. The reminders will be updated yearly to reflect TDA and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy changes and requirements. Please click here to download the Reminder Binder.
Transcripts from TDA Listening Sessions
Thank you to all who participated in our statewide listening sesions this spring. The transcripts from the sessions are almost ready and will be posted on this site soon.
Best Practices: Handling Fresh Produce in Schools
Click the link for a new informational brochure from USDA and NFSMI.
USDA Interactive Food Safety Vehicle to Hit the Road
USDA on Thursday announced the launch of the USDA Food Safety Discovery Zone, a 40-foot-long, interactive food safety learning experience that will aim to bring food safety information to towns and cities throughout the nation.
The new educational center on wheels is designed to improve public food safety awareness and behavior and prevent foodborne illness by emphasizing USDA's Be Food Safe messages: clean, separate, cook and chill.
After an initial appearance in Washington, the USDA Food Safety Discovery Zone hits the road and will spend nine months a year traveling across the United States. To find out when the USDA Food Safety Discovery Zone is coming to your area, or to request a visit, click here.
What’s New in USDA’s Food Distribution Program for Schools?
Click here to see the latest School Programs USDA Foods Update and read about the latest news on USDA Foods in schools, the DoD Fresh Program and food safety issues.
TDA Mayors Challenge: Summer 2010
Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples has challenged Texas mayors to help fight food insecurity in their communities by joining the TDA Mayors Challenge to increase children's access to nutritious meals this summer through one of TDA's summer nutrition programs. See the press release, "Commissioner Staples Calls on Organizations to Feed Children Healthy Meals During Summer Months." For details about TDA's Mayors Challenge, click here.
Child Care Center Sponsoring Organization
Information for organizations that wish to sponsor child care centers in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
USDA/FNS Commodity Alert System
The Commodity Alert System delivers instant notices of food issues from the USDA. Click the link above to sign up.
USDA Commodity Fact Sheets
Click the link below to access the updated USDA Commodity Fact Sheets. The fact sheets include information such as product descriptions, yields and storage instructions. In addition, USDA has added valuable food safety guidance and expanded the nutrient data information that is key to planning healthy school meals that support the Dietary Guidelines and MyPyramid recommendations. http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/schfacts/default.htm
SMI Tools for Success
Click the links below to access the files contained on USDA's CD -- SMI Tools for Success for School Food Authorities. The Road to SMI Success SMI Frequently Asked Questions Nutrient Analysis Protocol
Seamless or Traditional SFSP? Choose one of these programs to help kids stay nutritionally fit this summer.
Summer nutrition participation data for the month of July 2006 collected and reported by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) indicates that, compared to the 17 million children who received free and reduced-price lunches during the 2006 school year, only 2.9 million participated in the Summer Nutrition Programs. That July in Texas, only 8 of every 100 children who were eligible for free and reduced-price lunches participated in the Summer Nutrition Programs. One of the most disturbing facts of this report is that, among households with children, 15.6 percent were "food insecure"—a condition that affects more people during the summer months. This means children may have limited access to enough food to fully meet their basic needs.
Summer may mean a vacation from classes, but it should not be a break from nutrition. Children still need to be properly nourished to ensure that when school resumes, they are ready to learn. Not only public schools, but also private schools, camps, government units, and nonprofit organizations, can do their part by helping children stay nutritionally fit during the summer break with meals offered in a summer food program. How can we help? What resources are available?
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Food and Nutrition Division encourages you to offer the Traditional Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or the Seamless Summer Program throughout all the summer months.
To help you decide between the two programs, here are some details of both for you to compare:
Traditional Summer Food Service Program
· All children 18 years and younger eat free.
· Permanent agreement requiring annual updates.
· SFSP regulations and requirements are applicable.
· Federal Traditional SFSP reimbursement rates.
· Reimbursement for administrative costs.
· Must attend training.
· Commodities available at .015 cents per child.
Seamless Summer Food Program
· All children 18 years and younger eat free.
· Submit request for participation to TDA.
· Streamlined contract application process by extending National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
agreement.
· Combines features of the NSLP, School Breakfast Program (SBP), and Traditional SFSP with
reduced paperwork.
· Federal NSLP reimbursement at the free rate for all meal types served.
· No reimbursement for administrative costs.
· Training not required.
· Commodities available as part of the PAL entitlement through NSLP.
Menu Calendar Templates
In a continuing effort to provide resources for foodservice professionals on the front lines of child nutrition, the Texas Department of Agriculture has created menu calendar templates for school meals.
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