N.M. Admin. Code § 8.9.4.25

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 8.9.4.25 - FOOD SERVICE REQUIREMENTS FOR CENTERS

A. MEAL PATTERN REQUIREMENTS: All foods prepared by the center will conform to the guidelines from United States department of agriculture's (USDA's) child and adult care food program (CACFP) for foods, meal patterns and serving sizes.

B. MEALS AND SNACKS:

(1) A center will provide a child a meal or snack at least every three hours except when the child is sleeping at night.

(2) A center will serve, if necessary, a child a therapeutic or special diet with written prescription/diet orders from a physician or a recognized medical authority. Diet orders must be complete and descriptive, and not subject to interpretation by the center staff.

(3) A center shall make water freely available to children.

(4) A center that provides daily meals and snacks shall plan these to meet the minimum standards in the CACFP and to be consistent with the USDA's current dietary guidelines for Americans, to include the following. Parents of children who have special dietary needs may provide written permission to the child care program to exempt their child from the following requirements if necessary due to such special dietary needs.

(a) Only one hundred percent fruit or vegetable juice shall be served. The use of fruit drinks containing less than one hundred percent juice or artificially flavored drinks for meals or snacks is prohibited. One hundred percent or vegetable juice may be diluted with water.

(b) Only whole, pasteurized fluid milk shall be served to children between 12 and 24 months of age; reduced fat, low fat, or skim milk may be served to children who are two years and older.

(c) A wide variety of fruits and vegetables shall be served, with a preference for fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables over canned.

(5) A center shall vary snacks each day and shall include a selection of two different food group components from the four food group components.

C. MENUS:

(1) Menus shall include a variety of foods. The same menu will not be served twice in one week.

(2) Posted menus shall be followed. Substitutions shall be of equivalent nutritional value and shall be recorded on the posted menu.

(3) Dated weekly menus shall be posted at least one week in advance, in a conspicuous place, for review by parents, educators and children.

D. KITCHENS: Centers shall comply with current New Mexico environment department requirements regarding food service.

(1) A center will not allow children in the kitchen except under careful supervision.

(2) A food preparer will thoroughly wash all raw fruits and vegetables before cooking or serving.

(3) A center will serve food promptly and refrigerate immediately after use.

(4) A center will protect food and drink from insects, rodents, and other vermin by properly storing items in an airtight container or by tightly wrapping them. A center will label and date all leftover food.

(5) If food is brought from the child's home, a center will label it with the child's name and refrigerate if necessary. A center will label and refrigerate bottles of infant formula or breast milk. The center must ensure children are fed the food or bottle provided by their parent/guardian and as instructed by them.

(6) A center's refrigerators and separate freezers will have working internal thermometers and keep food requiring refrigeration, including formula, at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below, and frozen food at zero degrees Fahrenheit or below.

(7) A center will discard any leftover milk or formula, rinse bottles after use and sanitize bottles before reuse.

(8) A center will sanitize eating utensils, dishes and cups before re-use by washing them in a dishwasher or by completing the following steps:

a) wash with soapy water;

b) rinse with clean warm water; and

c) sanitize. Disposable plates and cups and plastic utensils of food-grade, medium weight may be used for single service, but Styrofoam cups may not be used.

(9) A center will use cleaning materials for the kitchen and food preparation areas only in the kitchen and will store the materials separately from food.

(10) A center shall thoroughly sanitize food preparation surfaces before and after each use.

E. MEAL TIMES:

(1) A center will equip dining areas with tables, chairs, eating utensils and dishes appropriate to the age of the children served and sanitize the areas before and after use.

(2) Staff/child ratios and group size must be maintained at meal times.

(3) Adults must sit with the children at meal and snack times to assist children with eating, drinking, and self-feeding and to encourage family-style dining and socialization.

(4) Time allowed for meals shall enable the children to eat at reasonable rate.

(5) A center will provide sanitary cups or glasses or a drinking fountain for drinking water. Infants and toddlers shall be offered water from a cup. Toddlers shall be encouraged to hold and drink from a cup, use a spoon, and to use their fingers for self-feeding. A center will not allow children to share drinking or eating utensils.

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.9.4.25

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIII, Issue 20, October 25, 2022, eff. 11/1/2022