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Are you confused by child nutrition (CN) labels? Do you know when you need to get one? Which foods may have a CN label, or how to use them? You are not alone. CN labels can be intimidating but also highly useful. This Mealtime Memo will guide you through the basics of the CN label and answer some frequently asked questions.

What Are CN Labels?

CN labels tell how a product contributes to the meal pattern. The manufacturer voluntarily submits their product to the USDA to get a CN label. The program provides a warranty against audit claims for purchasers of CN labeled products. CN labeling makes menu writing easier and gives peace of mind during audits.

Which Foods Are Eligible for a CN Label?

CN labels are available only for main dish entrées that contribute to the meats/meat alternates component of the meal pattern. They may also indicate the contribution of the grain and vegetable meal components that are part of these products. Examples include beef patties, cheese or meat pizzas, chicken nuggets, corn dogs, fish sticks, meatballs, lasagna, etc.

Where Do I Find CN Labels?

Note: The CN number on the sample label is not an actual CN number. A valid CN label will never have XXXXXX as a CN number.

You will find CN labels on the product’s package and, most often, on foods purchased through a large food distributor. Items purchased in grocery stores generally do not include a CN label, and not all commercially prepared combination food items will have one.

How Do I Use a CN Label?

Compare information from the CN label to the CACFP Meal Pattern minimum requirements to know how much to serve each child. Refer to the graphic below that shows the number of fish sticks to serve to each child in each age group at lunch or supper based on the sample CN label.

Do I Have to Keep CN Labels on File?

CACFP facilities must be able to document the meal pattern contribution of commercially processed foods served at meals and snacks. A CN label must be on file for all processed meats/meat alternates and commercially prepared combination food items to credit them to the meal pattern. Seven ring binders on the shelf. There are three options for keeping documentation of CN labeled foods. However, check with your State agency or sponsor to determine if there are other acceptable ways.

Original CN label cut from the product package
Photograph of the CN label attached to the product packaging
Photocopy of the CN label removed from the product package

CN labels must be visible and readable. The CN label for a specific product cannot be used for a different product. When re-purchasing a product, it must be the exact product.

What if I Cannot Find a CN Labeled Product?

Option 1: Contact the manufacturer for a Product Formulation Statement (PFS). The PFS tells how the creditable ingredients in the product contribute to the meal pattern. Refer to USDA’s PFS Tip Sheet for more information before adding items to your menu. Child In Chefs Hat

Option 2: Make the product from scratch! This is an easy way to make sure you are serving creditable CACFP foods. More importantly, you control what goes into the product and can make a healthy version of it. You can find healthy standardized recipes at the links in the Recipes section below.

Are CN Labeled Products More Nutritious or Higher Quality?

Not necessarily. A CN label does not mean the product is healthier, more nutritious, or higher quality than a similar product without a CN label. A CN label also does not mean the product is safer to eat or free of pathogens or allergens. CN labels are mainly used on processed meats and meat alternate products. To be sure you are serving high-quality, nutritious menu items, it is best to make meals from scratch.

Additionally, some CN labeled food products require a large portion size to meet minimum meat/meat alternate meal pattern serving sizes. For this reason, CN labeled products may not be good menu items for CACFP programs. Be sure to check CN labels for serving sizes to determine if the product is suitable for your program.

Are CN Labeled Products Whole Grain-Rich?

If the CN labeled main dish has a breading or grain, the CN label will tell you information about how the product counts as a grain and whether it is whole grain-rich or not.

Products that meet the whole grain-rich criteria will have the following language on the CN label:

x.xx oz. equivalent grains

Products that have mostly enriched grain ingredients (e.g., enriched wheat flour) and are NOT whole grain-rich will have the following language on the CN label:

x.xx oz. equivalent grains (enriched)

Whole Grain-Rich

Not Whole Grain-Rich

The CN Labeling Website includes a general background and helpful information about the CN Labeling Program.

The CN Label Verification Reporting System publishes a list of CN labeled products that are updated monthly. However, these lists do not replace the requirement to maintain CN labels.

Menu Ideas

The following menu ideas include recipes for combination items you can make from scratch. The recipes contain multiple food components listed in parentheses after the recipe.

Breakfast

Breakfast Pizza with Hash Brown Crust
(Meat Alternate, Vegetable)

1% Milk

Lunch/Supper

Beef Or Pork Burrito USDA Recipe For Schools

Beef or Pork Burrito
(Meat, Grain, Vegetable)
Pineapple Chunks

1% Milk

Snack

Baked Egg Roll
(Meat, Grain)

1% Milk

Recipes

You can find the featured recipes from the Menu Ideas section in the resources below:

The Child Nutrition Recipe Box has USDA standardized recipes for child care centers and family child care homes.
The Child Nutrition Recipe Box: New CACFP Lunch/Supper Recipes has standardized recipes per age group (3–5 and 6–18 year-olds) and for servings of 6, 25, and 50.

References

Institute of Child Nutrition. (2022, July 8). CACFP child meal pattern poster. https://theicn.org/resources/1482/cacfp-meal-pattern-posters-and-infographics/116958/cacfp-child-meal-pattern-poster-2.pdf

Institute of Child Nutrition. (n.d.). Baked egg rolls – USDA recipe for child care centers. Child Nutrition Recipe Box. https://theicn.org/cnrb/recipes-for-centers-main-dishes/baked-egg-rolls-usda-recipe-for-cacfp-multicultural/

Institute of Child Nutrition. (n.d.). Beef or pork burrito – USDA recipe for child care centers. Child Nutrition Recipe Box. https://theicn.org/cnrb/recipes-for-centers-main-dishes/beef-or-pork-burrito/

Institute of Child Nutrition. (n.d.). Breakfast pizza with hashbrown crust – USDA recipe for child care centers. Child Nutrition Recipe Box. https://theicn.org/cnrb/recipes-for-centers-breakfast/breakfast-pizza-with-hashbrown-crust-usda-recipe-for-cacfp/

Institute of Child Nutrition. (n.d.). Child nutrition recipe box. https://theicn.org/cnrb/

Institute of Child Nutrition. (n.d.). New CACFP lunch/supper recipes. Child Nutrition Recipe Box. https://theicn.org/cnrb/2022-cacfp-recipes/

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. (2016, January). USDA child nutrition programs: Tips for evaluating a manufacturer’s product formulation statement. https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/manufacturerPFStipsheet.pdf

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. (2019, May). Notice to the trade: CN label to include the declaration of all creditable grains. https://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource-files/cnl-notice-enriched-grains.pdf

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. (2021, February 12). National school lunch program CN labeling program. https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/labeling-program

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. (2022, July 11). Food buying guide for child nutrition programs (appendix C). https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/food-buying-guide-for-child-nutrition-programs

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. (2022, July 22). Crediting meats/meat alternates in the child nutrition programs tip sheet. https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/crediting-meats-meat-alternates-child-nutrition-tip-sheet

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. (2022, September 16). USDA/USDC authorized labels and manufacturers. https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/labeling/usdausdc-authorized-labels-and-manufacturers