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It’s important to follow the amount of sugar you are serving to children in the CACFP. The linked
CACFP sugar limit for breakfast cereals: All breakfast cereals served in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) must not have more than 6 grams of sugar per dry ounce. This is equal to 21.2 grams of sugar per 100 grams of cereal1.
- How to check the sugar limit using the Nutrition Facts label: There are three ways to tell if a cereal meets the sugar limit1:
- Divide the total sugars by the serving size in grams. If the answer is equal to or less than 0.212, then the cereal is within the required sugar limit.
- Multiply the serving size in grams by 0.212. If the total sugars are equal to or less than the answer, then the cereal is within the required sugar limit.
- Use the CACFP Cereal Calculator Tool2 to enter the serving size and total sugars from the label and get the result.
- Why serving low sugar cereals is important: Serving low sugar cereals in the CACFP can help children develop healthy eating habits, prevent obesity and dental problems, and meet the nutrition standards for meals and snacks3.
- Where to find more resources and guidance: The USDA provides various resources and guidance for CACFP providers and operators to implement the meal pattern requirements, such as worksheets, webinars, menus, recipes, and best practices4. You can also contact your state agency for more information and assistance5.
Calculating Sugar Limits for Breakfast Cereals in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. All breakfast cereals served in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) must not have more than 6 grams of sugar per dry ounce. This is equal to 21.2 grams of sugar per 100 grams of cereal.
Here are three ways to tell if a cereal meets the sugar limit:
• Option 1: Cereals on any State agency’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)-approved
cereal list meet the CACFP sugar limit.
• Option 2: Use USDA’s chart that shows common serving sizes of cereals and the maximum amount of sugars they can contain. Find the chart in “Choose Breakfast Cereals That Are Lower in Sugar” at https://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp-training-tools.
• Option 3: Divide the grams of Total Sugars by the Serving Size
(in grams). 3 _ grams Total Sugars __ grams Serving Size
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