Whole Grains in the School Meal Programs August 2, 2018 Denise Courtney & Sally Teixeira Non- Discrimination Statement In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. 2 1
01 Identifying Creditable Grains Agenda 02 03 Criteria for Whole Grain-Rich Food Items Evaluating Labels From Other Sources 04 Calculating Ounce Equivalencies Learning Objectives At the end of this hour participants will be able to Identify Creditable versus Non-Creditable Grains Understand criteria for Whole Grain-Rich (WGR) food items Calculate Ounce Equivalencies 4 2
01 Identifying Creditable Grains Grains Component (for Lunch and Breakfast) All grains offered must be whole grain-rich in order to credit toward the grains component* o *Unless a Whole Grain-Rich Product Exemption Request is approved for the current school year through DESE. In order to qualify for an exemption, SFAs must demonstrate a hardship in procuring, preparing or serving compliant whole grain-rich products that are accepted by students 6 3
Creditable versus Non-Creditable Grains Creditable Grains Whole meal Whole flour Enriched meal Enriched flour Those not whole or enriched: Oat fiber Wheat starch Bran Non-Creditable Grains Corn fiber Corn starch Germ Modified food starch (including potato, legume and other vegetable flours) 7 What Meets the Whole Grain-Rich Criteria? Contains: 100% whole grain meal/flour Contains: 50% or more whole grain with remaining enriched meal/flour 8 4
The 50 Percent Guideline The grain content of a product by weight must be at least: For example: o A school has a recipe for homemade dinner rolls containing a total of 6 cups of flour 3 cups of whole wheat flour 3 cups of enriched white flour 50% or more whole grains Remaining grain, (if any) must be enriched 9 Non-Creditable Grain Ingredients If purchased grain products include non-creditable grain ingredients, they must be present at a level of less than 2% of the product formula for the grain product to be creditable at lunch or breakfast. 10 5
Common 100% Whole Grains Amaranth Barley Buckwheat Bulger Corn Farro Millet Oats Quinoa Brown Rice Rye Sorghum Spelt Wheat Gluten free grains 11 Civil Rights Spotlight Q: Can the Offer versus Serve (OVS) provision be used to accommodate a meal modification like a gluten free diet? A: No. Schools operating OVS must ensure children with disabilities have the opportunity to select all required food components for the meal. A child who has Celiac disease or a gluten intolerance must have a choice of a bread/grain item that is gluten-free. The SFA may not use OVS to eliminate a specific food component for a child with a disability; in this case, the SFA must offer a grain substitute for a child who cannot consume gluten. SP 26-2017 12 6
02 Criteria for Whole Grain-Rich Food Items Evaluating Products for Whole Grain-Rich Criteria Whole grain-rich products must include BOTH elements #1 & #2: Element #1 A serving of the food item must meet portion size requirements for the grain component as defined in Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) guidance. Use Exhibit A (grain chart) pg 23: School Lunch and Breakfast. Element #2 ONE of the following: 1. The whole grains per oz eq must be 8 grams for groups A-G. 2. The product includes the FDA approved whole grain health claim on the packaging 3. Whole grain is listed as the first grain in the product ingredient declaration 14 7
Evaluating Products for Whole Grain-Rich Criteria This may be determined from information provided on product packaging, if available or from information provided by the manufacturer (i.e. product formulation statement). Element #2 ONE of the following 1. The whole grains per oz eq must be 8 grams for groups A-G. 2. The product includes the FDA approved whole grain health claim on the packaging. 3. Whole grain is listed as the first grain in the product ingredient declaration. 15 Evaluating Products for Whole Grain-Rich Criteria Diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods, and low in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers. or Diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods, and low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may help reduce the risk of heart disease. Element #2 ONE of the following 1. The whole grains per oz eq must be 8 grams for groups A-G. 2. The product includes the FDA approved whole grain health claim on the packaging. 3. Whole grain is listed as the first grain in the product ingredient declaration. 16 8
Evaluating Products for Whole Grain-Rich Criteria Element #2 ONE of the following 1. The whole grains per oz eq must be 8 grams for groups A-G. 2. The product includes the FDA approved whole grain health claim on the packaging. 3. Whole grain is listed as the first grain in the product ingredient declaration. 17 03 Evaluating Labels From Other Sources 9
Whole Grain Stamp Q. Can schools use the Whole Grain Stamp (from the Whole Grain Council) to determine if a food product meets the WGR criteria? A. The Whole Grain Stamp provides useful information about the amount of grains contained in a product, however, the content of the whole grain must still be matched against the serving size requirements in the school meal patterns. 19 Company Fact Sheets Q. Are schools allowed to use statements from products/packaging or company fact sheets to determine meal pattern equivalents? A. Unless a product includes a CN label, the product must still be evaluated as a WGR product and matched against the serving size requirements in the school meal patterns. 20 10
Child Nutrition Labels (CN Labels) What are Child Nutrition Labels? Allows manufacturers to state the contribution on their labels. The program provides a warranty against audit claims for purchasers of CN labeled products. How does the Program work? Requires an evaluation of a product's formulation by FNS to determine its contribution toward meal pattern requirements. Are CN Labels Required? Manufacturers are NOT required to obtain CN labels for their products. Schools are NOT required to purchase products with a CN label. 21 How do I identify a CN Label? CN Logo (border) Meal pattern contribution statement 6-digit product ID number USDA/FNS authorization statement Month/year of approval 22 11
04 Calculating Ounce Equivalencies Two Ways to Calculate Ounce Equivalencies NOTE: All grains are measured in ounce equivalents and must be rounded down to the nearest quarter ounce. Total Weight of Creditable Product Grams of Creditable Grain Ingredient 24 12
Calculating Ounce Equivalents by Total Weight 25 Calculating Ounce Equivalents by Total Weight Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Obtain information from the food label One frosted pop tart = 50 grams (1.76 oz) Obtain group and ounce equivalent information from Exhibit A Group E 1 oz eq = 69 grams or 2.4 oz Take the weight of the item and divide by grams or weight in ounces and then round down to the nearest quarter ounce 50 grams 69 = 0.72.50 oz eq 1.76 oz 2.4 oz = 0.73.50 oz eq 26 13
Calculating Oz Eq by Grams of Creditable Grain Q: How do I determine the amount of creditable grain ingredient contained in a product? A: From product formulation statement provided by the manufacturer, if available. 27 Product Formulation Statements (PFS) Demonstrates how a processed product contributes to meal pattern requirements Requested when purchasing a processed product without a CN Label Signed and on the manufacturer s letterhead Maintained on file along with nutrient information Obtained along with nutrient information, if Nutrition Facts panel is not on the processed product 28 14
Product Formulation Statements (PFS) Program operators are ultimately responsible if a menu does not fulfill meal pattern requirements; therefore they must keep supporting documentation. Program operators are responsible to: o request the supporting documentation o verify that is accurate o maintain records of the documentation 29 Calculating Oz Eq by Grams of Creditable Grain E Whole Wheat Flour, Enriched Wheat Flour 20g 16g 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.76 oz (50g) 30 15
Accepting Processed Product Documentation USDA Policy Memo (TA 07-2010 (v.3), November 26, 2014 Blank Grain Product Formulation Statement Tip Sheet for Accepting Processed Product Documentation o Child Nutrition (CN) Labeled Products o Product Formulation Statements (PFS)/Other Documentation 31 Whole Grain From Multiple Ingredients Q. What do we do when a whole grain is not the first ingredient listed on the label declaration and the product contains multiple whole grain ingredients? A. A CN label or a written product formulation statement must be provided by the company or manufacturer showing that the whole grains are the primary ingredient by weight 32 16
Whole Grain-Rich Criteria Decision Tree 33 Additional Resources Whole Grain Resource Product Information Sheets Food Buying Guide 34 17
A single grain of rice can tip the scale. One man may be the difference between victory and defeat. Emperor of China, Mulan 35 THANK YOU Denise Courtney & Sally Teixeira Dcourtney@doe.mass.edu Steixeira@doe.mass.edu www.doe.mass.edu 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148 18