Understanding the New CACFP Yogurt Sugar Rules
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) plays a vital role in providing nutritious meals and snacks to children and adults in care settings. The program's nutrition standards are based on the latest dietary science to ensure participants receive meals that support healthy growth and development. To meet this goal, the USDA has recently finalized changes to its meal patterns, including an important update to the sugar limits for yogurt. The new regulation shifts the focus from total sugars to a more specific cap on added sugars, bringing CACFP standards in line with modern nutritional recommendations.
The Transition from Total to Added Sugars
Historically, CACFP's sugar limit for yogurt was based on total sugars, which include both naturally occurring sugars (like lactose in milk and fructose in fruit) and added sugars (like corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup). This total sugar limit was 23 grams per 6-ounce serving. While this was a useful standard, it often penalized yogurts containing natural fruit, even if they had very little added sugar. In a final rule published in April 2024, the USDA announced that, as of October 1, 2025, the limit will shift to focus solely on added sugars.
This change aligns the CACFP with other child nutrition programs and empowers program operators to make more informed choices. The added sugars limit encourages manufacturers to reduce sugar content and helps providers select products that support healthier eating habits from a young age.
How to Identify Creditable Yogurt
For program operators, understanding how to read a Nutrition Facts label is the key to ensuring compliance. With the new rule, the focus is not on the "Total Sugars" line but specifically on the "Added Sugars" line. The creditable yogurt must meet the standard of no more than 12 grams of added sugar per 6-ounce serving.
Here is a step-by-step guide to checking a product:
- Locate the Nutrition Facts label: On the yogurt container, find the Nutrition Facts panel.
- Find the "Added Sugars" line: Look for the number of grams listed next to "Added Sugars." This is often nested under the "Total Carbohydrate" and "Total Sugars" lines.
- Check the serving size: Note the serving size, which is usually listed in ounces (oz) or grams (g). If the label lists a serving size other than 6 ounces, you will need to perform a simple calculation.
- Calculate the limit: If the serving size is not 6 ounces, you can calculate the amount of added sugar per ounce by dividing the grams of added sugar by the ounces in the serving. The result must be 2 grams or less per ounce to be compliant.
- Compare: Compare the calculated added sugar per ounce to the 2-gram limit. If it is less than or equal to 2 grams, the yogurt is creditable.
For example, if a yogurt has 10 grams of added sugar per 6-ounce serving, it is creditable because 10 grams is less than the 12-gram limit. Similarly, if a container has 12 grams of added sugar in an 8-ounce serving, the calculation would be 12g ÷ 8oz = 1.5g per ounce, which is compliant.
Comparison of Old vs. New CACFP Yogurt Sugar Rules
| Feature | Old Rule (Before Oct 1, 2025) | New Rule (After Oct 1, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Limit Based On | Total Sugars | Added Sugars |
| Limit | 23 grams per 6 oz | 12 grams per 6 oz (2g per oz) |
| Label Line | Total Sugars | Added Sugars |
| Impact on Fruit | Natural fruit sugars contribute to limit, potentially disqualifying products. | Natural fruit sugars do not contribute to limit, allowing more fruit-containing products. |
| Key Focus | Total carbohydrate content | Intentional sugar reduction |
Benefits of the New Added Sugars Limit
The shift to an added sugars limit offers several significant advantages for childcare providers and participants:
- Improved Nutrition: By limiting added sugars, the new rule helps reduce the empty calories children consume while encouraging the development of healthier palates.
- Increased Flexibility: Providers have more flexibility to offer yogurts that contain fruit, as the natural sugars from fruit will no longer count against the limit. This expands the variety of creditable, healthy options.
- Enhanced Education: The change helps educate providers and parents on the difference between naturally occurring sugars and added sugars, a key concept for understanding product labels.
- Support for Healthier Options: This regulation incentivizes food manufacturers to formulate products with less added sugar, leading to a wider selection of healthier products on the market.
Beyond the Sugar Limit: Other Yogurt Requirements
Beyond the sugar content, CACFP has other important requirements for yogurt to be considered creditable. Only dairy or soy yogurts that meet the specific added sugar limits are creditable. Certain products, such as drinkable yogurts, frozen yogurts, and homemade yogurts, are not creditable for reimbursement. The CACFP also encourages serving low-fat or fat-free yogurt for participants aged 2 and older, consistent with broader dietary recommendations.
Conclusion
The new CACFP rule defining how much sugar is allowed in CACFP yogurt marks a progressive and important update to national child nutrition standards. By switching from a total sugar limit to a more targeted 12-gram added sugar limit per 6 ounces, the USDA is promoting healthier dietary patterns from a young age. Program operators must familiarize themselves with this change, learn how to read nutrition labels for added sugars, and implement the new rules by October 1, 2025, to ensure compliance and provide the best possible nutrition for the children and adults in their care.
For more detailed guidance and training materials, you can refer to the USDA's official Team Nutrition website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: When does the new CACFP yogurt added sugar limit go into effect? Answer: The new rule becomes mandatory on October 1, 2025, though many operators can implement it earlier with state agency approval.
Question: Does the added sugar limit of 12 grams apply to all serving sizes? Answer: The limit is 12 grams of added sugar per 6 ounces of yogurt. If a serving size differs, you can calculate the limit per ounce (2 grams per ounce) to check for compliance.
Question: Is yogurt a replacement for milk for all age groups in CACFP? Answer: No. For adults, yogurt can replace fluid milk once per day. However, for children of any age, yogurt cannot be substituted for the fluid milk requirement.
Question: Can I serve flavored yogurt to children under 6 years old? Answer: For children 1-5 years old, flavored milk or flavored non-dairy beverages cannot be served for reimbursement. The CACFP encourages choosing unflavored options for young children.
Question: Are yogurts with fruit compliant under the new rule? Answer: Yes, as long as the total amount of added sugars is within the 12-gram limit per 6 ounces. The naturally occurring sugars from the fruit do not count against this limit.
Question: How can I tell the difference between total sugars and added sugars on a label? Answer: On the Nutrition Facts panel, look for the line labeled "Added Sugars." This value is distinct from the "Total Sugars" line, which includes both added and natural sugars.
Question: Can homemade yogurt be served in CACFP? Answer: No, homemade yogurt is not creditable in the CACFP due to food safety concerns. Only commercially prepared yogurt is reimbursable, provided it meets all other requirements.
Question: Are drinkable or squeezable yogurts creditable? Answer: No, drinkable and squeezable yogurts do not meet the FDA standard of identity for yogurt (which requires a coagulated state) and are therefore not creditable in the CACFP.
Question: Does the added sugar limit for yogurt also apply to infant meals? Answer: Yes, yogurt served to infants (ages 6-11 months) who are developmentally ready to accept it must also meet the added sugar limit, as part of the updated meal pattern.
