Mich. Admin. Code R. 400.8330

Current through Vol. 24-21, December 1, 2024

Section R. 400.8330 - Food services and nutrition generally

Rule 330.

(1) Snacks and meals must be provided by the center, except when 1 of the following circumstances occurs:

(a) A majority of the children are in attendance less than 2.5 hours.

(b) Food is provided by a parent.

(2) A written agreement must be kept on file at the center if the parent has agreed to provide formula, milk, or food. The center shall provide an adequate amount of formula, milk, or food if the parent does not.

(3) Beverages and food must be appropriate for the child's individual nutritional requirements, developmental stages, and special dietary needs, including cultural preferences.

(4) A center shall ensure a child who has special dietary needs is provided with snacks and meals in accordance with the child's needs and with the instructions of the child's parent or licensed health care provider.

(5) A center shall provide adequate staff so that food service activities do not detract from direct care and supervision of children.

(6) A center shall make water available to drink throughout the day to children 1 year of age and older.

(7) Infants and toddlers shall be fed on demand.

(8) A child shall be served meals and snacks in accordance with the following schedule:

(a) Two and a half hours to 4 hours of operation: a minimum of 1 snack.

(b) Four hours to 6 hours of operation: a minimum of 1 meal and 1 snack.

(c) Seven hours to 10 hours of operation: a minimum of 1 meal and 2 snacks or 2 meals and 1 snack.

(d) Eleven hours or more of operation: a minimum of 2 meals and 2 snacks.

(9) A center shall not deprive a child of a snack or meal if the child is in attendance at the time when the snack or meal is served.

(10) Menus must be planned in advance, dated, and posted in a place visible to parents. Food substitutions must be noted on the menus the day the substitution occurs.

(11) A center shall not serve infants and toddlers or allow them to eat foods that could easily cause choking, including but not limited to, popcorn, seeds, nuts, hard candy and uncut round foods such as whole grapes and hot dogs.

(12) Cereal must not be added to a bottle or beverage container without written parental permission.

(13) If food, bottles, or beverage containers are warmed, then the warming must be done in a safe, appropriate manner.

(14) Warming bottles and beverage containers in a microwave oven or a crockpot is prohibited.

(15) Bottle warmers must be placed where children cannot access them or reach the cords for them.

(16) Bottle warmers must be shut off when not in use. A child care staff member shall not hold a child while removing a bottle from the heating device.

(17) Warmed food, bottles, and beverage containers must be shaken or stirred to distribute the heat, and the temperature must be tested before feeding.

(18) The contents of a bottle or beverage container must be discarded if any of the following apply:

(a) The contents appear to be unsanitary.

(b) The bottle or beverage container has been used for feeding for a period that exceeds 1 hour from the beginning of the feeding.

(c) The bottle or beverage container requiring refrigeration has been unrefrigerated for 1 hour or more.

(19) Formula and milk, including breast milk, left in a bottle or beverage container after a feeding must not be reused.

(20) Bottle propping is prohibited.

(21) When feeding, child care staff members shall hold infants, except when infants resist being held and are able to hold their bottle.

(22) Infants or toddlers shall not have bottles, beverage containers, or food in sleeping equipment.

(23) Children shall not have beverage containers or food while they are walking around or playing.

(24) Child care staff members shall foster and facilitate toddlers independence, language, and social interactions by doing all of the following:

(a) Encouraging self-feeding.

(b) Serving appropriate portion sizes.

(c) Sitting with toddlers during meal times.

(25) Breastfeeding must be supported and accommodated.

(26) A designated place must be set aside for use by mothers who are breastfeeding.

Mich. Admin. Code R. 400.8330

2013 AACS; 2020 MR 23, Eff. 12/18/2019