TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NOTE

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NOTE
1. No. 03-11
2. FOOD AND NUTRITION MANAGEMENT
  1. _
    1. Request for Use of In-house Product Yield Data for Meal Preparation

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NOTE

Bureau of School Business Services

Emily Laymon

FOOD AND NUTRITION MANAGEMENT

(800) 504-6609

Jim Horne, Commissioner

(850) 488-4192

March 10, 2003

TO:

Sponsors of the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and

After School Snack Programs

Milton T. Tankersley, Administrator

Food and Nutrition Management

Request for Use of In-house Product Yield Data for Meal Preparation

Since the release of the new USDA Food Buying Guide, Food and Nutrition Management has

received several inquires from program sponsors regarding the product yield information listed for

a variety of food products. Many program sponsors have stated that they are consistently getting

higher or lower yields from products than yields specified by the Food Buying Guide. The USDA

has issued guidance to allow program sponsors to use their own in-house product yield data with

approval from Food and Nutrition Management.

Many factors affect product yield, including:

The quality and condition of the food bought

Storage conditions and handling

Equipment used in preparation

Cooking method and time

The form in which the food is served (i.e., mashed potatoes, baked potatoes)

The serving utensils and portion control methods used

In order to receive approval to use in-house product yield data, program sponsors must complete

In-house Yield Data Usage Request

form and submit it to Food and Nutrition Management,

Healthy Meals Team, prior to implementation. The following information must be submitted to

support the in-house product yields to be reviewed:

Product Manufacturer

Product Quality/Grade

Product Unit/Weight/Size

Product Yield per Unit

Food Buying Guide Unit/Weight/Size

Food Buying Guide Yield per Unit

Cooking Method Used

Cooking Time/Duration

Serving Utensil Type/Size

When Food and Nutrition Management receives your request, it will be reviewed for approval.

If approved, documentation will be kept on file in the Food and Nutrition Management office.

In addition, a copy of the approval will be sent to the district school food service director with a

request that a copy of the approval be kept on file at the actual school site where the product yield

data will be utilized. If your request is denied, you will receive written notification of this action.

Once approval is granted, it is not necessary to request approval each year for the same product if

the conditions upon which the approval was initially granted remain unchanged. However, if the

conditions change, another request must be submitted.

To request a copy of the

In-house Yield Data Usage Request

form, call Emily Laymon, Food and

Nutrition Management, Healthy Meals Team at 1-800-504-6609 or email your request to

emily.laymon@fldoe.org.