Texas Department of Agriculture	Form | NSLP | Whole Grain-Rich
	Exemption SY 2018-2019 May 25, 2018

                                                        

In School Year (SY) 2018-2019, a contracting entity (CE) may request the following exemptions for whole grain-rich products: 

1. Extension of a previously approved WGR product exemption
2. Flexibility in serving specific whole grain-rich (WGR) products for new grain products. 

If approved, the CE must continue to comply with SY 2013-2014 requirement to serve at least half of total weekly grain servings as whole grain-rich and the remaining half of the total weekly grains servings as enriched grains. 

To submit a request to the TDA, please take the following actions:

• Complete the Whole Grain-Rich Exemption Request Form, School Year 2018-2019 located in the Texas Unified Nutrition Programs System (TX-UNPS), Download Forms Screen
• Retain a copy of the submitted form for the CE's records
• Click Submit when the form is completed.

Part I. Contracting Entity (CE) Information

Please provide the following information about the CE. 

Extended Exemption Request for an Approved SY 2017-2018 WGR Product

A CE may extend an approved exemption if the CE (1) has taken action to find WGR products that are acceptable to students and (2) has used strategies to improve preparation practices that increase acceptability. 

If approved, the exemption will be effective for SY 2018-2019 only. If an exemption is approved, a CE must agree to the following:

• Continue to search for acceptable WGR products including working with its regional education service center (ESC) or Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to search for acceptable WGR products.
• Continue to comply with the SY 2013-2014 requirement to offer/serve at least half of total weekly grains servings as WGR products and the remaining half of total weekly grains servings as enriched grains. 

Part II. Extended Exemption Request Questions

Provide the following information to extend an exemption that was approved for SY 2017-2018. 

If an exemption was not granted for SY 2017-2018, do not answer these questions. 

New Grain Product Exemption Request

In School Year (SY) 2018-2019, a contracting entity (CE) may request flexibility in serving specific whole grain-rich (WGR) products if the CE can demonstrate one or more hardship(s) in procuring (buying or purchasing), preparing, or serving compliant WGR products that are accepted by students as described below.

A CE must have a hardship in ONE OR MORE of the following areas to qualify for a WGR exemption.

• Financial
  • There was a significant drop in meal counts when a whole grain-rich product was offered in place of an enriched grain product.
  • There is a significant cost increase when buying the whole grain-rich product(s).
• Limited Product Availability
  • No or limited access to a compliant whole grain-rich product(s) through USDA Foods, the CE’s cooperative or other sources.
• Poor Student Acceptability
  • There has been significant negative student/parent feedback or increased plate waste of the whole grain-rich product(s) over a sustained period of time.
• Unacceptable Product Quality
  • Whole grain-rich product(s) exhibit poor quality in appearance, integrity, or taste.

As noted above, a CE is NOT required to have a hardship in all four categories to receive an exemption.

Part II. Product Information

Part III. Plan for the Future

Answer the following question and provide the description as requested.

Part IV. Attestation Statement

Please click the Print Form button before you submit the form. Print Form is not available after the form is submitted.

Once you select Submit, you will receive an email that contains all of the information submitted in the form. Please keep this for your records.

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