Meal Pattern Minute: Updated Sugar Limits in Breakfast Cereals

Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals are a breakfast staple in the Child and Adult Care Food Program due to its variety, quick preparation, and popularity. When choosing a breakfast cereal in the CACFP, CACFP providers must also select cereals that meet or are below the total sugar limit requirement. However, on April 24, 2024, USDA released the Finale Rule: Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans which changed the CACFP sugar limit for ready-to-eat breakfast cereals.  

Find out about the updated sugar limit by listening to this Meal Pattern Minute, where Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, discusses this as well as the implementation date and resources to help you. 

Explore the resources provided below to help you understand the updated sugar limits for ready-to-eat breakfast cereals. 

• Initial Implementation Memorandum: Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
  • CACFP: Changes product-based limits for breakfast cereals and yogurt from total sugars to added sugars, consistent with the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program  product-based added sugars limits:
    • Breakfast cereals must contain no more than 6 grams of added sugars per dry ounce (7 CFR 226.20(a)(4)(ii)
    • CACFP total sugars limits remain in place until October 1, 2025, when the added sugar limits must be implemented. With State Agency approval, CACFP operators may choose to implement the added sugars limits for breakfast cereals and yogurt early.
• Identifying Added Sugar Limits in Cereal
  • Use this resource to help you determine three different ways if a breakfast cereal is within the CACFP added sugar limit. 
• Free Webinar: Choose Breakfast Cereals That Are Lower in Added Sugars 
  • This webinar highlights the added sugars limit for breakfast cereals and how to identify cereals that meets this limit. Presented by: USDA Food and Nutrition Service 
•  Recipe Snack Idea:  
  • Make a trail mix with your creditable breakfast cereal(s) and mix it with nuts, seeds, or dried fruit. 
  • Prepare a fruit and yogurt parfait with cereal between the layers for some added crunch. 

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