Ask the Food Program
Question:
I know I am supposed to find combination foods with a CN label. Where do I find foods with CN labels? What do I do if I can’t find them?
Answer:
Commercial combination foods in grocery stores often do not have a CN label, and not all commercially-made combination foods have them. You are more likely to find them on foods purchased through large food distributors.
If you cannot find a CN label for a commercial combination food you intend to serve, you must contact the manufacturer. Most manufacturers have a Contact Us tab. Use that feature and identify the specific product(s) you have interest in, using the name(s) and number(s) as written on the packaging. Request a Product Formulation Statement according to the CACFP guidelines.
Keep in mind that products with a CN label or a Product Analysis Sheet are not necessarily healthier or more nutritious than other combination foods. They may not be free of pathogens or allergens – something to be especially careful of if you have children in care with known or suspected food allergies or sensitivities. Some foods with CN labels require such large portions to meet CACFP guidelines that to serve them in the amount required may be very costly for providers. (https://www.cacfp.org/2023/02/21/child-nutrition-cn-labels/)
In most cases, when you serve commercial combination foods, you aren’t serving a healthier meal or a less costly meal. You may be serving a quicker, more convenient meal, but that comes at a price. If you want to be serving food that is minimally processed, that has recognizable ingredients and fewer potential allergens, and is, quite possibly, less expensive to serve, you are better off with a homemade alternative.
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