Meal Pattern Minute: Raw Cow’s Milk

When purchasing local cow’s milk, you may come across a few different options like raw cow’s milk and pasteurized cow’s milk. While both may come from the same farm, they’re not treated the same way before they reach your kitchen. And when it comes to serving milk in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), knowing the difference matters. Whether you're shopping at a farmers market or working with a local dairy, it's important to understand which milk options meet CACFP requirements and which ones don’t. 

Find out more information in this Meal Pattern Minute as Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, discusses if raw cow’s milk is creditable in the CACFP. Transcript below. 

The answer is no. Raw cow’s milk is not creditable in the CACFP because it has not been pasteurized. Also for food safety reasons, raw milk may contain harmful bacteria which poses as a health risk for those in your care. 

Want to dig deeper into what foods are creditable in the CACFP?

• The USDA’s Crediting Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program is a great place to start. It covers everything from milk to meats/meat alternates and helps you make informed choices for your menus. 
• To learn more about fluid milk in the CACFP, check out USDA’s Crediting Fluid Milk in the Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet.  
• Need a chart to help you determine which fluid milks to provide to the ages your are serving? Review our member-only resource, CACFP Milk Guidelines: Choosing the Right Milk for Every Age Group. 

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