Rule 5180:2-20-09 | School food services.
(A) What are the food service requirements for preschool programs?
The preschool shall be in compliance with section 3717.41 of the Revised Code.
(B) What are the screen time requirements for preschool programs?
The preschool is not to allow screen time during meals and snacks.
(C) What is the requirement for preschools to serve snacks and meals?
Snacks and meals are to be served to children who attend four or more hours in accordance with all of the following:
(1) Snacks and meals served shall be of quantity, variety, and quality in accordance with required daily allowance as prescribed by the United States department of agriculture (USDA) meal patterns. If a child requires a modified diet that eliminates an entire food group, written instructions from a physician, physician assistant, clinical nurse specialist or certified nurse are to be obtained. To the extent possible, a family's preferred dietary preferences (i.e. vegetarian, vegan) should be accommodated.
(2) Reconstituted dry powdered milk shall be used only for cooking and shall not be used as a beverage.
(3) Offer food from each of the five basic food groups for meals. For snacks, offer food from two of the five basic food groups. The five basic food groups include items from each of the following: protein, grain, fruit, vegetable, and dairy.
(4) Parents may provide snacks and meals if they are provided with information on nutritious snack choices. Procedures are in place to ensure that a child is provided with food if a parent does not send a snack or lunch for the day.
(5) The snack shall be served during the longest period between meals.
(6) Current menus for the entire week shall be posted in a conspicuous place and shall reflect all meals and snacks to be served by the preschool program. Any substitute foods served shall be from the same basic food group and shall be recorded on the posted menu on the day the substitute food is served.
(D) What are the requirements for preschool programs to provide infant food and/or formula?
Programs shall provide infant food and/or formula in accordance with all of the following:
(1) Infant food and/or formula provided by the parent shall be labeled with the child's name, date of preparation, and immediately refrigerated, except for unopened commercially prepared canned food or formula.
(2) If breast milk is provided by the parent or guardian, it shall be labeled with the child's name, date expressed, date of receipt, and shall be immediately refrigerated. Formula provided by the parent shall be labeled with the child's name, the date of receipt, and immediately refrigerated. Breast milk or formula shall not be stored for more than twenty-four hours. The unused portion of formula, breast milk, or food remaining in the container from which the infant has been directly fed shall not be reheated or served a second time and shall be discarded.
(3) Infant food and formula shall be prepared, stored, and served in a manner appropriate to the equipment use and the needs of each individual child according to the child's stage of development and in conformity with written instruction from the parent or physician in charge of the child.
(4) Breast milk or formula shall not be heated in a microwave oven.
(5) Food heated in a microwave oven shall be stirred or shaken during heating to avoid uneven heating.
(6) Infants shall be held or fed sitting up, and at no time should a bottle be propped.
(7) Programs that care for infants shall provide commercially prepared iron fortified formula to be used in the event that the parent does not provide a quantity of formula sufficient to meet the infant's daily requirement.
Last updated July 1, 2026 at 8:55 AM
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