Updated Guidance on Access to Domesticated and Wild Game Animals

Published: 364 days ago
" The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has released a revised memo clarifying regulatory requirements related to food safety and answering specific questions related to procurement of local meat, poultry, seafood, game, and eggs. FNS has revised the memo to better reflect opportunities to access domesticated and wild game animals.
"
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has released a revised memo clarifying regulatory requirements related to food safety and answering specific questions related to procurement of local meat, poultry, seafood, game, and eggs. FNS has revised the memo to better reflect opportunities to access domesticated and wild game animals.

The revised memo can be found here: The following questions in the memo (#6, 7, and 8) have been updated as follows:
  • Must domesticated and wild game animals be voluntarily inspected in State Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) Programs or USDA facilities to be served in Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs)?
It depends. Producers selling domesticated and wild game animals to CNPs must meet applicable Federal, State, local and Tribal food safety regulations and inspection requirements. Program operators should work with their local food safety authority to determine whether producers are approved food sources as required by applicable State and local (including Tribal) food safety regulations.
----
  • The Food Buying Guide (FBG) States that “game meat must be from USDA inspected establishment;” will this language change?
The FBG footnote has been amended to reflect that purchased wild and domesticated game animals that have met all applicable Federal, State, local and Tribal food safety regulations and inspection requirements can be served in CNPs. The FBG also clarifies that donated, uninspected wild game served by certain Program operators which primarily serve Native Americans is creditable in CNPs as allowed by section 4033 of the Farm Bill.
-----
  • Can CNP operators use Federal funds to purchase and serve wild and/or domesticated game meat?
Yes, CNP operators can buy wild and domesticated game meat with Federal funds as long as the animals are slaughtered and inspected following all Federal, State, local, and Tribal food safety regulations and inspection requirements. Please note that State and local authorities may have stricter regulations, prevent

###




Assistance available in English and Spanish. Please call 877-TEX-MEAL (877-839-6325) for help. Additional translations services available as well.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
SquareMeals.org Logo

Facebook Icon Instagram Icon
Twitter Icon YouTube Icon