Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Webinar: Universal Meals Listening Session #3

Information about requirements and best practices for implementing the California Universal Meals Program in school year 2022–23.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Main Web Page

On January 11, 2022, the California Department of Education (CDE) hosted the third Universal Meals Listening Session webinar for school food service operators, chief business officials, and community partners, providing an opportunity for schools and community partners to learn more about the California Universal Meals Program (Universal Meals).

The webinar provided information on the impact Universal Meals will have on federal provision requirements, answered frequently asked questions, and featured a presentation from one food service director who discussed innovative ideas for implementing the community eligibility provision.


To view past recorded Universal Meals Listening Sessions, go to the CDE COVID-19 Guidance in the Child Nutrition Programs web page and select the Webinars tab.

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding this subject, please email UniversalmealsSY22@cde.ca.gov.

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Recently Posted in Nutrition

  • Update to Buy American Provision (added 21-Jun-2024)
    Rule finalizes regulations that strengthen the Buy American provision in the School Nutrition Programs. The Buy American provision requires school food authorities to purchase, to the maximum extent practicable, domestic commodities or products.
  • Summer Meal Excess Heat & Poor Air Quality Waiver (added 17-Jun-2024)
    The USDA has approved the use of two statewide waivers requested by the CDE for summer meal program operators in good standing to provide meals in a non-congregate setting due to excessive heat and/or poor air quality.
  • Webinar-Expanded Geographic Preference (added 10-Jun-2024)
    This web page provides registration information on the webinar titled Partners Webinar on the Expanded Geographic Preference Option in the Final Rule, provided by the USDA’s Farm to School Team.
  • South American Meat Inc. Recalls Frozen Raw Beef (added 06-Jun-2024)
    South American Meat Inc., recalled approximately 20,111 pounds of various eligible frozen raw beef products that were not presented to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service for import reinspection.
  • Farm to Summer Celebration Week 2024- Reminder (added 04-Jun-2024)
    The F2Summer Celebration Week is a recognition program for summer meal program operators that complete three elements: 1) Taste, 2) Teach, and 3) Connect during the designated week of June 17–21, 2024.