Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Nutrition What's New

Overview

The Nutrition Services Division (NSD) send messages via Listserv to program operators and contacts. The messages contained in the tabs below are identified by program and sponsor type. Program types include the School Nutrition Program (SNP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), Summer Food Service Programs (SFSP), Food Distribution Program (FDP). To become a School Nutrition Program Operator, an agency must be either a public entity or a nonprofit organization with an Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(3) determination. SNP sponsor types include Residential Child Care Institutes (RCCI), and County Office of Education (COE), public and private schools, and direct funded charter schools. SNP role types include Chief Business Officer (CBO), and Food Service Director (FSD). Specialized messages intended for target audiences are marked with an asterisk (*) and are not applicable to entire program and sponsor types.

Note: Messages on this page will remain for three months before being removed.

Disaster

Proclamations that affect our program operators and state.

2025

January

Notice Date Title Applicable to
1/9/2025 President Biden Approves Major Disaster Declaration for the Wildfires in the Los Angeles Area SNP (in the Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties)
1/8/2025 Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Diego, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties due to Fires SNP (in the Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties)

2024

December

Notice Date Title Applicable to
12/6/2024 Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency in Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino Counties due to Earthquakes SNP (School Food Authorities in Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino Counties)

November

Notice Date Title Applicable to
11/8/2024 Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency in Ventura County due to Mountain Fire SNP (FSD)

October

Notice Date Title Applicable to
10/24/2024 Reminder: Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency in Kern County SNP, SSO, SFSP
10/24/2024

Reminder: Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency in Plumas, Butte, and Tehama Counties

 SNP, SSO, SFSP
10/24/2024

Reminder: Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency in Butte County in Response to Thompson Fire

SNP, SSO

Training

Announcements and availability of trainings, both sponsored by the NSD and those of the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other partners. Includes both in-person and e-learning offerings (conference calls and webinars).

2025

February

Notice Date Title Applicable to
2/7/2025 Webinar: Tuesday @ 2 Town Hall - February 25, 2025

SNP, SSO, SFSP

 

January

Notice Date Title Applicable to
1/30/25 Webinars: Scratch Cooking & Reducing Sodium

SNP

Policy

Notifies program operators of the release of U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy memoranda.

2025

February

Notice Date Title Applicable to
2/7/2025 Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas: Questions and Answers #3

SSO, SFSP

January

Notice Date Title Applicable to
1/31/2025 Fees for Electronic Payment Services in the School SNP
1/9/2025 National School Lunch Program: Equipment Assistance Grant: Allowable Costs SNP (Equipment Assistance Grant grantees)

2024

October

Notice Date Title Applicable to
10/31/2024

Local Control Funding Formula Legislative Change

SNP
10/24/2024 Reminder: Food Safety Inspections Reminder SNP
10/15/2024 SFSP 16-2024: Q&A Related to the Collection of Race and Ethnicity Data SFSP

Management Bulletin (MB)

Notifies program operators of the release of California Department of Education (CDE) NSD MBs.

2025

Notice Date Title Applicable to
1/9/2025 Buy American Provision SNP

2024

December

Notice Date Title Applicable to
12/16/2024 Final Rule Regarding Fluid Milk Substitutions in School Nutrition Programs SNP, SSO, SFSP

November

Notice Date Title Applicable to
11/26/2024 Applying Geographic Preference in Procurement SNP, SFSP
11/18/2024 Management Bulletin: Community Eligibility Provision Application

SNP (Public Schools, Charter Schools, Private Schools and County Offices of Education and Other Government. FSD)
11/4/2024 Meal Service During Unanticipated School Closures SNP, SFSP

October

Notice Date Title Applicable to
10/24/2024 Reminder: Shipment and Receipt of USDA Foods: Revision 4 FDP
10/14/2024

SNP-02-2024 - California State Meal Mandate - School Nutrition

SNP (Public Schools, Charter Schools, Nonpublic Schools and County Offices of Education and Other Government. FSD, CBO, Superintendent)

Funding

Funding and grant opportunities.

2025

January

Notice Date Title Applicable to
01/13/2025 Availability of the 2025-26 Breakfast Grant

SNP(Public Schools, Charter Schools and County Offices of Education and Other Government)

2024

November

Notice Date Title Applicable to
11/08/2024 2024–25 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Second Allocation Funding Results

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grantees

October

Notice Date Title Applicable to
10/31/2024 Healthy Meals Incentives Grant SNP, SSO, SFSP
10/24/2024 Reminder: Reimbursement Rates for SNP and FDP for SY 2024–25 SNP (FSD, CBO, Claim Preparer), FDP

Recognition

Recognition opportunities available to program operators.

No messages available at this time.

Other

Applications, surveys, announcements, and annual updates.

2025

January

Notice Date Title Applicable to
1/28/2025

School Year 2025-26 United States Department of Agriculture Foods Available List and Pricing

 FDP (Recipients, Processors, and Distributors)
1/13/2025 Waiver for Non-congregate Meals During Ramadan SNP
1/7/2025 Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Order Receipt System New Requirement FDP
1/3/2025

Child Nutrition Information and Payment System Update

SNP, SSO, SFSP, FDP (Processors, Distributors and Recipients); and Child and Adult Care Food Program

2024

December

Notice Date Title Applicable to

12/9/2024

 Reminder: Food Distribution Program Continued Suspension of Admin. Fee: SY 2024–25 FDP
12/9/2024 Reminder: Action Required: Excess Net Cash Resources SNP (FSD, CBO)
12/2/2024

New DoD Prime Vendor for Southern California

FDP (specialized list of southern California recipients agencies)

November

Notice Date Title Applicable to
11/5/2024

SUN Bucks Web Page

SNP (Public Schools, Charter Schools, Private Schools, Nonpublic Schools and County Offices of Education and Other Government)

October

Notice Date Title Applicable to
10/30/2024 Food Distribution Program Collaboration Committee Application FDP
10/24/2024 Reminder: School Year 2024–25 Annual Update Now Open SNP (Food Service Director, Chief Business Official and Claim Preparer)
10/24/2024 Reminder: Summer EBT 2024 Announcement SNP (Public Schools, Charter Schools, Private Schools, Nonpublic Schools and County Offices of Education and Other Government, FSD, CBO, Superintendent)
10/24/2024 Reminder: Income Eligibility Scales for School Year 2024–25 SNP, SSO, SFSP
10/10/2024 USDA Foods Participation Election for SY 2025–26 SNP (FSD), FDP

Follow @CDENutrition on Twitter.

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Monday, February 10, 2025
Related Content
  • Child Nutrition Programs Course Catalog
    A catalog of online training courses for program operators participating in the Child Nutrition Programs.
  • Food Service Staff Education and Training
    Information for new School Nutrition Program (SNP) professionals and an overview of the School Nutrition and Summer Nutrition Programs, online trainings, resources, and program contact information.
  • Nutrition
    Resources and information related to child nutrition, nutrition education, food distribution programs, and the Child Nutrition and Physical Activity Advisory Council.
  • School Nutrition
    Meal and milk programs offered at public and private non-profit schools and residential child care institutions.
Trending in Nutrition
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas: Q&A #3 (added 10-Feb-2025)
    The USDA issued a policy memorandum Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas: Questions and Answers #3, which provides further clarification on rural non-congregate requirements.
  • Fees for Electronic Payment Services in the School (added 31-Jan-2025)
    The memorandum clarifies policy related to fees associated with electronic (online) payments and ensures students determined eligible for free or reduced-price meal benefits receive the benefits.
  • Webinars: Scratch Cooking & Reducing Sodium (added 30-Jan-2025)
    The CICN hosts a live webinar addressing How to Transition to Scratch Cooking in Schools - First Steps. The USDA Meal Talk Webinar to share strategies to reduce sodium and engage students in menu planning.
  • SY 2025–26 USDA Foods Available List and Pricing (added 29-Jan-2025)
    This report provides an estimated price per pound, per case, and per truck for all USDA Foods items available in school year (SY) 2025-26.
  • Waiver for Non-congregate Meals During Ramadan (added 14-Jan-2025)
    The Waiver for Non-congregate Meals During Ramadan allows approved school food authorities to offer non-congregate meals to students fasting during Ramadan.

  • Buy American Provision (added 10-Jan-2025)
    The Buy American provision is a procurement standard that SFAs must comply with when purchasing food products served in School Nutrition Programs (SNP). SFAs are required to purchase domestic commodities or products to the maximum extent practicable.
  • NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant: Allowable Costs (added 10-Jan-2025)
    The USDA issued Policy Memo SP 06-2025: National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Equipment Assistance Grants (EAG): Installation Expenditures which provides guidance on costs related to installing and using new equipment purchased with EAG funds.
  • Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency (added 08-Jan-2025)
    Governor Newsom proclaims state of emergency to support the communities impacted by the Palisades Fire.
  • FFAVORS new requirement (added 08-Jan-2025)
    Effective January 5, 2025, (FFAVORS) user are now required to receipt within 2 business days of receipt of product or required delivery date (RDD).
  • CNIPS Update (added 06-Jan-2025)
    Transition of Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) server hosting and maintenance from California Department of Technology to California Department of Education (CDE).