Start with breaded meat and fish products: chicken nuggets, breaded chicken patties and fish sticks. The whole piece is not all meat or fish—it also contains breading and may contain other ingredients. A CN label or manufacturer’s Product Formulation Statement (PFS) tells you how much actually counts toward the meal pattern.
Other foods to check include purchased pizza, corn dogs and burritos, where several ingredients are combined in one item. The question is: how much meat, grain or other meal component does the portion I serve actually provide?
For purchased processed meat products such as nuggets and patties without standard Food Buying Guide yield data, USDA directs operators to request a CN label or PFS. See its meat/meat alternate guidance.
You do not need a CN label for every food. You do need documentation supporting the contribution you plan to count. The paths below explain where to start.
Scope: federal CACFP crediting documentation for child care menus. Checked October 8, 2026. State or local purchasing requirements may also apply.
Which documentation path fits?
| What you are serving | Where to start |
|---|---|
| A food matching a USDA Food Buying Guide entry | Use the matching food description, preparation form and yield information to establish its contribution. |
| A combination dish prepared in your kitchen | Use a documented recipe with ingredient quantities, yield and portion size. USDA’s Recipe Analysis Workbook can calculate the expected contribution. |
| A purchased processed product whose contribution cannot be established from the information available | Look for a valid CN label or request a manufacturer’s Product Formulation Statement (PFS). |
The Food Buying Guide helps determine food yields and meal contributions. For recipes, see USDA’s Recipe Analysis Workbook guidance.
What a CN label tells you
A CN label states the meal components a specified serving contributes. USDA approves the label and provides a warranty for that contribution when the product is used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. It does not establish that the rest of your meal meets the requirements.
The program is voluntary. Eligible products are main dishes contributing to the meat/meat alternate component; their labels may also identify other component contributions. A food does not become uncreditable simply because it has no CN label.
Use the six-digit CN number to check USDA’s CN Label Verification Report. The reports are updated monthly. The report helps verify label status; keep the supporting label documentation as well. See USDA’s CN-label overview.
What if the product has no CN label?
When you need manufacturer documentation, request a signed PFS on the manufacturer’s letterhead. A PFS is not USDA-approved. The operator is responsible for checking its calculations and claimed contribution.
Ask for clarification if the statement does not establish the contribution you intend to count. Do not guess from the product’s name or carry over documentation from a different item. USDA explains the distinction in its manufacturer documentation guidance.
What should I keep?
USDA accepts the original carton CN label, a photocopy or photograph showing it attached to the original carton, or a vendor-provided watermarked label accompanied by a matching invoice identifying the product. When a valid CN label is provided, state reviewers must not request a PFS. See USDA’s documentation tips.
Our practical recommendation: keep the evidence together with the product identity and planned serving size. Recheck it when a supplier substitutes a product or you change brands, package sizes or recipes. If the label status is unclear, resolve the question before relying on that contribution.
What should I do next?
Identify the product, find the documentation path and compare the supported contribution with the portion and meal you plan to serve. If you cannot establish the contribution, obtain clarification or choose a documented alternative.
Continue with the Food Buying Guide article, CN-product vendor directory or Learn CACFP hub. Existing CACFP Solutions clients can use the label-submission FAQ for their current workflow.
Need help organizing menu and monthly claim records? Review our claims-processing service scope and confirm the support included in your plan. Your organization remains responsible for its records and meal service.