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21.12: Food Service Requirements for Child Care Centers Section 101227

  • Page ID
    142062
    • Amanda Taintor
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    Section 101227

    How foods are stored and served is crucially essential to the health and safety of all children in childcare. Knowing Community Care Licensing's food-related requirements and remaining compliant with them are among the most critical responsibilities of a child care provider.

    Licensing requirements regarding food service fall into two types. The first type covers food safety, emphasizing how and how long foods may be stored in child care centers. The second type covers the kinds of foods that may or may not be provided to children in care and the amount of allowed foods that centers need to have on hand. [1]

    Food Safety Section

    • Foodservice areas must have a sink, refrigeration, storage space for food, and hot and cold running water.
    • Hot water must be hot enough to clean all dishes and utensils after use thoroughly.
    • Food storage and preparation areas must be kept clean of dirt and debris and be free of pest contamination, mold, and other health hazards.
    • All edible items must be stored separately from potentially hazardous items, such as cleaning materials and poisons, which means they cannot be stored on the same shelf or in the same cabinet, closet, or pantry.
    • Refrigerators used to store food for children must be kept clean and in good working order.
    • Food items must not be served to children if they show any signs of spoilage or contamination.
    • In infant childcare centers, all food items provided by families, such as milk or formula, must be labeled with the child's name for whom they're intended, the contents of the container, and the date provided to the caregiver.
    childcare kitchen facility with sink
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Foodservice areas must have a sink, refrigeration, storage space for food, and hot and cold running water. ([1])

    Although not required by regulations, it is a best practice not to allow the sharing of food brought from home by any children. This practice can help prevent allergic reactions and the spread of infectious diseases.

    Infant Care Food Service Section 101427

    • Each infant shall have an individual feeding plan completed before the infant's first day at the Center. This plan must be developed by the director, the infant's representative and/or physician.
    • The plan shall include instructions for the infant's special diet, feeding schedule, breast milk or formula, schedule for introduction to solid/new foods, food consistency, likes and dislikes, allergies, and plan for introducing cups and utensils.
    • This plan shall be updated as often as necessary.
    • Bottle-fed infants shall be fed at least every four hours.
    • Infant care centers shall have appropriate food available for the infants.
    • The Center shall provide only commercially prepared formulas that are stored and prepared following the label.
    • The infant's representative may provide formula or breast/mother's milk. Such formula or milk shall be bottled before being accepted by the Center.
    • Bottles shall be labeled.[1]
    • Center may heat formula or breast/mother's milk.
    • The Center must keep a supply of nipples. Bottles/nipples can not be shared between infants unless sterilized.
    • Infants unable to hold a bottle shall be held by staff for bottle feeding.
    • Bottles cannot be propped; infants shall not carry a bottle while ambulatory; a bottle given to an infant able to hold his/her own shall be unbreakable.
    • High chairs or appropriate seating equipment shall be used for infants during feeding. Infants unable to sit unassisted shall be held by staff for feeding.
    • Bottles, dishes, and food containers brought from infant's home shall be labeled with infant's name and current date.
    • Formula partially consumed in a bottle shall be discarded at end of each day.
    • Food shall be discarded if not consumed within 72 hours of date on the container label.
    • The infant care center shall not serve honey.
    • Commercially prepared baby food in jars shall be transferred to a dish before being fed to the infant. Any food leftover in the dish at the end of a meal shall be discarded.
    • The mother may make arrangements with the Center for privacy to nurse the infant.
    • Bottles and nipples in Center shall be sterilized.
    • Infants shall not be bathed in, and diapers or clothing shall not be rinsed in, the food preparation area.[2]
    Food labeled with name and date
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Food labeled with name and date. ([2])

    Infant Care Personal Services Section 101428

    • There shall be a written toilet-training plan for each infant being toilet trained.
    • Whenever a potty chair is used, it shall be placed on the floor and promptly emptied, cleaned, and disinfected after each use.
    • No child shall be left unattended while on a potty chair or seat.
    • Each child shall receive instruction and assistance in handwashing after use of the toilet. The infant shall be kept clean and dry at all times.
    • Soiled or wet clothing provided by the infant's representative shall be placed in an airtight container and given to the representative at the end of the day.
    • When changing an infant's diaper, each infant shall be on a changing table and no infant shall be left unattended while on the changing table.
    • Towels and washcloths used for cleaning infants shall not be shared and shall be washed after each us.
    • The changing table shall be disinfected after each use.[3]

    Kinds of food allowed (and not allowed) Section 101227

    All meal and snack items must meet guidelines maintained by Community Care Licensing and other governing agencies covering nutrition. These include the types and amounts of the four food groups included in meals and snacks, and the need to serve only healthy beverages to children, which are limited to:

    • clean and safe drinking water,
    • 1% or nonfat milk,
    • and no more than 1 serving of 100% fruit juice with no added sweetener.

    Childcare providers must post a complete menu of all meals and snacks to be served at least 1 week in advance and make updates when changes occur. Providers might substitute a menu item not listed on the menu if an adequate supply of the original item wasn't delivered or available. The substitute meets the stated nutritional standards.[1]

    Additional Resources:


    [1] California Department of Social Services. Care Center General Licensing Requirements

    [2] Image by Amanda Taintor is licensed CC BY-NC

    [3] Appendix B- Title 22 Licensing Regulation Highlights is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jennifer Paris


    This page titled 21.12: Food Service Requirements for Child Care Centers Section 101227 is shared under a mixed 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Amanda Taintor.