Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 196 - Human Services Department
Chapter 9503 - CHILD CARE CENTER LICENSING
Part 9503.0145 - FOOD AND WATER

Subpart 1. Food.

The license holder must see that meals and supplemental snacks are available. Bag lunches provided by the parent are acceptable as specified in subpart 4.

Subp. 2. Menus.

When food is provided by the license holder, menus must comply with the nutritional requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Code of Federal Regulations, title 7, section 226.20.

Subp. 3. Sanitation.

Procedures for preparing, handling, and serving food, and washing food, utensils, and equipment must comply with the requirements for food and beverage establishments in chapter 4626. If the food is prepared off site by another facility or if food service is provided according to a contract with a food service provider, the facility or license holder must ensure that food is prepared in compliance with chapter 4626. The license holder must provide refrigeration for dairy products and other perishable foods, whether supplied by the license holder or supplied by the parent. The refrigeration must have a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Tables and highchair trays used for meals must be washed with soap and water before and after each use.

Subp. 4. Meals and snacks.

Each meal must provide one-third of the child's daily nutritional needs as specified by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, in Code of Federal Regulations, title 7, section 226.20. The license holder must provide or ensure the availability of:

Subp. 5. Prescribed diet needs.

The license holder must provide for a child's dietary needs prescribed by the child's source of medical care or require the parent to provide the prescribed diet items that are not part of the menu plan approved in subpart 2. A license holder serving a child who has a prescribed diet must keep the diet order and its duration specified in the child's record. All staff designated to provide care to the child must be informed of the diet order.

Subp. 6. Food allergy information.

Information about food allergies of the children in the center must be available in the area where food is prepared or served to children with allergies. All staff providing care to the child must be informed of the allergy.

Subp. 7. Infant diets.

The diet of an infant must be determined by the infant's parent. The license holder must ensure that sanitary procedures and practices are used to prepare, handle, and store formula, milk, breast milk, solid foods, and supplements. Procedures must be reviewed and certified by a health consultant. A center serving infants must:

Subp. 8. Water.

The center must have a safe water supply. A center that uses water from a privately owned well that is not governed by chapter 4720 must be tested annually by a Minnesota Health Department certified laboratory for coliform bacteria and nitrate nitrogens to verify safety. The license holder must ensure that a record of the test results is in the center's administrative record. The commissioner of health may issue an advisory order for retesting and corrective measures.

Drinking water must be available to children throughout the hours of operation and offered at frequent intervals. Drinking water for children must be provided in single service drinking cups or from drinking fountains accessible to children.