New Food Program Rules
For those of you who are members of a food program, are you allowed to serve cut up pieces of melon (cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew), cut up pieces of berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries) or cut up pieces of cherry or grape tomatoes to kids under 4 years of age?
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are you allowed to serve cut up pieces of melon (cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew), cut up pieces of berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries) or cut up pieces of cherry or grape tomatoes to kids under 4 years of age?
I work in a daycare on the food program. We have mixed melon at least once a week in the twos room. We get mixed berries a lot too. |
I haven’t seen or heard of any restrictions on these foods. As I understand, once a child is 12 months, they should be eating the same as the older children. I do cut foods differently, depending on the children’s ages. For example, today I served apples. The 4-5 yr olds each had his/her own whole apple. The toddlers had theirs peeled and diced.
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Hmmm...up until the new rules were put in place, it hadn't been an issue here. Now i'm told those foods will be disallowed for kids under 4. Apples and pears are ok but not berries and melons - even if they're cut into small pieces. :confused: Cherry and grape tomatoes I understand, although I can't figure out how they're any different from larger tomatoes when they're cut up.:rolleyes: Just wondering if anyone else has been told the same.
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I have not heard that e.j., who told you that? I bet they're wrong because nowhere has it been mentioned.
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My food lady should be visiting this week. I will ask her when she comes.
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I had served those foods during the month of October and last week, received a form letter from my food program saying, "choking foods for children under 4 years should not be served (including berries, melon balls, cherry tomatoes)" and that in the future, claims for those foods would be disallowed. I had served all 3 types of foods (cut up, of course) so I asked for clarification. My food rep doubled checked for me and replied that none of those foods are allowed to be served to kids under 4 even if they're cut up.
It makes no sense to me. I understand why whole melon balls, whole berries and whole grape/cherry tomatoes shouldn't be served to kids under 4 - that's common sense to me - but to not allow cut up versions of those foods...? It doesn't make sense to me at all that I can't serve something like cut up watermelon but I can still serve apples and pears. |
I have not heard anything about this! I serve those things all the time. I cut them up, and with grapes (I believe maybe this was a suggestion from Nannyde, but I am pretty sure I read it here), I put them in the blender and serve them at an applesauce consistency. I haven't had anything disallowed for this.
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Originally Posted by e.j.: |
EVERYTHING is a choking food. Diced small enough, it's fine to eat. I would argue this point. Who is your food program sponsor? Go to the CACFP national level and ask!
What do they say you CAN serve? I've never even had them question it eg. I just write "grapes" or "cherry tomatoes" and they have not once asked if I even cut them (I do!) My sponsor does not limit what fruits and vegetables can be served after like 6 months I think (I don't take infants so I'm not 100% sure on that age) |
Originally Posted by daycarediva: |
I also received a memo from licensing. It said to cut up beans. It did not specify what kind of beans. Black beans? Pinto beans? Or just green beans? It encouraged a lot of puréed foods… How are kids supposed to learn to chew?
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Originally Posted by MissAnn: |
I've always served berries, melons and tomatoes, too, and it's never been an issue until now. Apparently, from what my food program says, they are no longer allowed under the new rules. My food program is Yours For Children. I've been with them for over 20 years and I've never had a problem with them. The rep who visits is wonderful; I can't say enough positive about her. From what she told me, she's equally as frustrated by this new rule.
As far as I know, we can still serve things like banana, kiwi, mango, peaches, plums, apples, pears, nectarines, oranges, pineapple, apricots, etc. Just not berries, melons and small, round tomatoes - and grapes, which we were told not to serve years ago. It's just the arbitrary nature of this that makes no sense to me, I guess. Why would diced apples or pears be any safer than cut up or even pureed strawberries? Based on what I was told, though, we can't serve berries or melons in any form from now on. It makes about as much sense as being able to serve sausage but not hot dogs. Sometimes the rules set by government entities just don't make much sense!:rolleyes: |
Originally Posted by daycarediva: 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.:rolleyes: |
I gotta say, that's crazy. Especially if apples are okay and watermelon isn't. Who makes these rules??
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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! |
Originally Posted by Annalee: |
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 :lol: |
Originally Posted by LysesKids: |
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. |
Originally Posted by e.j.: That is insane. Apples but not watermelon? Kiwi but not raspberries? THE STATE/government I tell ya! |
Originally Posted by LK5kids: |
Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa: Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa: |
Originally Posted by LysesKids: 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? |
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.
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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. |
Originally Posted by e.j.: I'm California ... no word yet on any of these. |
That's it.
I am serving everything in those suck-able pouches from now on. The kids can all pretend they are on a spaceship to the moon and have to eat astronaut food. :ouch: |
Originally Posted by Blackcat31: And think of how EASY it will be! |
Originally Posted by Blackcat31: |
Originally Posted by Rockgirl: That list is ridiculous. I still do NOT understand why raspberries and kiwi are not allowed but apples, pineapple and even oranges are. I don't understand the peanut butter as long as you spread it on something thinly. I still serve hot dogs(about 1x a month) and grapes; I just cut them appropriately. I'll have to buy myself a food processor and throw their whole meal in it, give 'em a bowl and let them go at it. And if you don't serve some of those foods, how will they automatically know to chew them well at 4 yo? It's all about common sense. Sit to eat, take small bites, no fooling at the table, cut/chop food appropriately. If they keep restricting more and more, there will be less and less providers on the food programs and then there goes their funding.:rolleyes: |
Originally Posted by Josiegirl: Just fyi...It's been clarified for us that by kiwi they mean kiwi berries (which I had never heard of!) and not the kiwi with the fuzzy skin we're used to seeing around here. So you can serve kiwi but not kiwi berries. |
If we make anything homemade we know have to provide the recipes to the food program or have on hand when our rep comes.
Also, we are know going to need to start writing down how much we serve to each child on a daily basis. Will be a formal rule in 2019 it sounds like but trying to get us in the habit of doing it now. |
We haven't been told any of that yet. My guess is, they want the dust to settle on the berry/melon flap first before they hit us with more.
It was also confirmed for me that while we can serve graham crackers and animal crackers at 6 and 7 grams of sugar per serving, we can no longer serve cinnamon swirl bread at 4 grams of sugar per serving. Go figure. My dc kids love cinnamon bread. They're going to be a very sad group of kids.:( |
Originally Posted by Country Kids: |
Originally Posted by Josiegirl: |
Originally Posted by Country Kids: |
Originally Posted by e.j.: |
Originally Posted by Baby Beluga: |
Originally Posted by Blackcat31: Originally Posted by e.j.: I now make WW bread and sprinkle a little cinnamon on top. It's NOT the same, but the kids are ok with it. |
Originally Posted by daycarediva: |
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