Section 400.1931. Food preparation and service.

Rule 31. (1)  Each  child  shall  be  provided  with    nutritional   and sufficient food as required by the minimum meal requirements of the child care food program, as administered by the Michigan department of education, based on the national research council's   recommended   dietary allowances    for appropriate age groups, unless parents provide the food.

(2)      Children  shall  be   offered  food  at   intervals   as    individually appropriate, but not to exceed more than 4 hours unless the child is asleep.

(3)   Drinking water shall be available at all times.

(4)   Food shall be prepared, served, and stored in a  safe  and  sanitary manner. All of the following shall apply:

(a)    Food served to  children  individually   or  family  style   shall     be discarded at the end of the meal if not eaten.

(b)    Prepared food that has not  been  served  to  individuals  or    placed in family- style containers shall  be   promptly  covered   after    preparation and stored appropriately.

(c)    Children under 3 years of age shall not be served or allowed to eat foods that may easily cause choking  including,   but  not  limited  to, popcorn  and uncut round foods such as grapes, seeds, nuts, hard  candy,  and hot dogs.

(5)    If a parent has agreed to provide the food, then the caregiver shall have a written agreement from the parent and  shall  be  responsible for providing adequate food if the parent does not.

(6)     Food brought by parents shall be labeled with the child's name and, if perishable, shall be refrigerated.

(7)   If home canned foods are served, then parents shall be informed.

(8)   Unpasteurized products shall not be used.

(9)    Children shall be encouraged   to  taste  new  foods,  but  shall  not be required to eat anything they do not want.

(10)    Bottles used for feeding shall be labeled  with  the  child's   name and date, and refrigerated.

(11)    The contents of a bottle that has been used for feeding for a period that exceeds  1  hour  from  the  beginning   of  the     feeding,    or has  been unrefrigerated for 1 hour or more shall be discarded.

(12)    Children shall not have beverage containers while they are in bed or while they are  walking around  or  playing.  The  propping  of  bottles is prohibited.

History: 2005 AACS; 2009 AACS.