April 13, 2011
TO: Sponsors of the Summer Food Service Program
RE: Waiver of Meal Time Restrictions and Offer-Versus-Serve for Non-School Sponsors
The Oregon Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs (ODE CNP) received
guidance from USDA concerning a waiver of the Federal Summer Food Service Program
(SFSP) regulations for meal time requirements in 7 CFR §225.16 (c) and expands the
option to use offer versus serve to non-school sponsors in 7 CFR §225.16(f )(ii).
Federal Regulations require that three hours elapse between the beginning of one meal or
snack service and the beginning of the next, except that four hours must elapse between
the beginning of lunch and the beginning of supper when no afternoon snack is served.
Additionally, the duration of meal service is limited to two hours for lunch and supper and
one hour for breakfast and snacks [7 CFR §225.16(c)].
Meal Time Restrictions - Waiver
USDA is waiving these restrictions in an effort to simplify Program management.
Sponsors must continue to establish meal times for each site and provide this information
to ODE CNP on the CNPweb Site Information Sheet. Sponsors must also keep this
information up-to-date throughout the summer.
However, Sponsors are not required to ensure that specific time periods elapse between
the meal services.
Expanded Offer-Versus-Serve Option (OVS)
Federal regulations have only allowed school sponsors to have the offer versus serve
(OVS) option [7 CFR §225.16(f)(ii)]. OVS permits children to decline food or menu items
they do not intend to eat.
This memorandum expands the option of using OVS to non-school sponsors. The OVS
option can be an opportunity to minimize food waste and help sponsors contain costs.
Schools electing to use OVS must use the options relevant to their menu planning
approach. Other SFSP sponsors wishing to use OVS must follow the OVS requirements
for the food-based menu planning approach. This means a child may decline only one
food item offered at breakfast and up to two of the food items offered at lunch or supper.
There is no OVS option for snacks.
If you have questions, please contact me at (503) 947-5892 or Barbara Cracknell, SFSP
Coordinator, at (503) 947-5911 or barbara.cracknell@state.or.us
Sincerely,
Lynne Reinoso
Manager, Community Nutrition
Child Nutrition Programs
Office of the Superintendent