Quarterly Policy Update: July 2026

The new milk options for each age group in the CACFP are as follows:

• Fluid milk served to children 1 year old must be unflavored whole milk;
• Fluid milk served to children 2 through 5 years old may be unflavored whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, or fat-free milk; and
• Fluid milk served to children 6 years and older and adult participants may be unflavored or flavored, whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, or fat-free milk.

Guidance: Expanding Fluid Milk Options in CNPS

USDA released guidance on the implementation of the Expanding Fluid Milk Options in Child Nutrition Programs Final Rule. As of June 8, 2026, all CACFP operators have the flexibility to serve whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free milk to all participants ages two and up in their programs. The guidance memo also clarifies that all milk options must be pasteurized and met State and local standards.

Guidance: Ensuring Integrity in Non-Congregate Meal Service in the SFSP

USDA has issued guidance outlining program integrity expectations for non-congregate meal service under the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The guidance provides recommendations on parent or guardian pick-up, site-caps, site proximity, and home delivery. Each piece of guidance aims to support state agencies in developing policies to prevent integrity issues and to perform successful on-site monitoring.

Information Collection: CACFP National Disqualified List

USDA is accepting comments on its information collection activities for maintaining the National Disqualified List (NDL). The NDL is a list of institutions, providers, and individuals that have been terminated and disqualified from the CACFP. USDA invites comments on whether the information collection is necessary and seeks recommendations on ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being collected.

NCA will provide a comment to this proposed information collection activity.

USDA Reorganization

On April 30^th, USDA announced the reorganization of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), now renamed as the Food and Nutrition Administration. The initial announcement did not dive into the specifics of the reorganization. However, on May 8, USDA published a reorganization webpage that provides more details on the timeline and structure of the reorganization.

 

Congressional Updates

Universal School Meals Program Act

The Universal School Meals Program Act (H.R.8798/ S.4518) has been reintroduced in Congress. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-5) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) are leading the bill in the House and the Senate, respectively. This legislation would make comprehensive updates to the CACFP, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to ensure that all children receive free meals.

 

NCA Advocacy in Action

NCA Response: Expanding Fluid Milk Final Rule

USDA invited stakeholder comments to help inform any future guidance or rulemaking on the expansion of fluid milk options. After conducting a listening session with the CACFP community, NCA provided a response to USDA, recommending they encourage State agencies to fully implement this flexibility beginning June 8, 2026. NCA also made recommendations to reduce the documentation requirements related to milk and asked for more information on the update of USDA materials to align with the final rule.

Updated NCA Fluid Milk Resources

To help operators implement the Fluid Milk expansion, NCA has updated our materials to align with the new flexibility. Updated materials include:

• Milk in the CACFP
• CACFP Milk Guidelines (Member Only)
• Meal Pattern Minute: Whole Milk
• Meat Pattern Minute: Reduced-Fat Milk
• Milk in the CACFP (webinar)

 

For more information contact policy@cacfp.org.