Calculating Grains Oz Eq: PFSs

Back to Crediting Grains Using Ounce Equivalents

Overview

This web page provides step-by-step guidance on how to calculate grains ounce equivalents (oz eq) using a manufacturer’s Product Formulation Statement (PFS) for:

1. Commercially-prepared combination main dish products that contain grains and do not have a Child Nutrition (CN) Label. For example, commercially-prepared burritos, pizza, and chicken nuggets.
   
   
2. Commercially-prepared grain products that do not have a Nutrition Facts label on the package. For example, commercially prepared bread, rolls, and pizza purchased from a local bakery without a Nutrition Facts label.
   

Calculation Steps

• Step 1: Request a completed PFS
  
  
  • CACFP Operators should contact the manufacturer to request a completed PFS that documents the amount of creditable grains per serving. If the manufacturer does not have a PFS, the CACFP Operator should provide the manufacturer with a blank U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) PFS for Documenting Grains–Oz Eq form for the manufacturer to complete. This form is available in the Manufacturer’s PFS section on the USDA Food Manufacturers/Industry web page
    
    
• Step 2: Access the USDA PFS checklist
  
  
  • Access the USDA PFS Tip Sheet–Evaluate if the Document is Acceptable resource, available in the Manufacturer’s PFS section on the USDA Food Manufacturers/Industry web page, to verify that the required components are included on the PFS (signed company letterhead, product name, the product is a creditable grain, serving size, etc.). Then confirm the calculations were done correctly by completing steps 3, 4, and 5 below.
    
    
  Tip! : To determine if the product is a creditable grain, access the CDSS Determining Creditable Grain Products in the CACFP web page.
  
  
• Step 3: Determine grams of creditable grains per serving
  
  
  • Divide the number of grams (g) of creditable grains in one serving by the number of servings listed on the PFS to determine the creditable grains per serving.
    
    
  • For example, a PFS from a manufacturer lists that there are 17 g of creditable grains in 1 roll: 17 g ÷ 1 roll = 17 g of creditable grain per roll .
    
    
• Step 4: Determine oz eq per serving
  
  
  • Divide the grams of creditable grain per serving (Step 3) by 16, because the USDA has established that 16 g of creditable grain is equal to 1 oz eq.
    
    
  • For example, 17 g creditable grain per serving (Step 3) ÷ 16 = 1.06 oz eq per roll .
    
    
• Step 5: Round down
  
  
  • Round down to the nearest 0.25 oz eq.
    
    
  • For example, 1.06 oz eq (Step 4) rounded down to the nearest 0.25 oz eq = 1.0 oz eq grains per roll .
    
    
• Step 6: Determine the required serving size
  
  
  • To determine the required serving size for the grains component, refer to the Meal Patterns Tables section on the USDA Nutrition Standards for CACFP Meals and Snacks web page.
    
    
  • For example, the minimum serving size for the grains component for children ages 1–5 at lunch is ½ oz eq; therefore, the minimum serving size is one-half of a roll, which provides ½ oz eq.
    

Products that Do Not Have a CN Label, PFS, or Nutrition Facts

If the commercially-prepared combination main dish product (such as pizza and chicken nuggets) does not have a CN Label and a manufacturer’s PFS cannot be obtained, the CACFP Operator cannot serve the product as part of a reimbursable meal because the amount of grains oz eq in one serving cannot be determined. For example, if one slice of pizza weighs 85 grams, that weight includes the weight of the crust, sauce, and toppings; therefore, there is no way to determine just how many grain oz eq are in one slice by looking at the weight of one serving on the Nutrition Facts label without additional manufacturer documentation.

If a commercially-prepared grain product (such as bread and crackers) does not have a Nutrition Facts label and a manufacturer’s PFS cannot be obtained, the CACFP Operator may be able to claim the product if there is a list of ingredients on the product packaging. If the grain is creditable (see the CDSS Determining Creditable Grain Products in the CACFP web page), the CACFP Operator can determine the grains oz eq in one serving using the steps listed in the section, Using a Food Scale, on the CDSS Calculating Grains as Oz Eq: Recipes web page.

Additional Resources

• USDA CACFP Grains Ounce Equivalents Resources web page
  
  
• USDA Food Manufacturers/Industry web page

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