National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program for Children: Meat Alternates Used in the Child Nutrition Programs

SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period on the ``Meat

Alternates Used in the Child Nutrition Programs'' proposed rule,

published in the Federal Register (61 FR 35152) on July 5, 1996, for 15

days. This extension will ensure greater public input which will aid

the Department in refining the final rule.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 3, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Robert M. Eadie, Chief, Policy and

Program Development Branch, Child Nutrition Division, Food and Consumer

Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert M. Eadie at the above address

or at 703-305-2620.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 5, 1996, the Department published a

proposed rule, ``Meat Alternates Used in the Child Nutrition Programs''

(61 FR 35152), to allow yogurt to be credited as a meat alternate for

all meals served under the National School Lunch Program, School

Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program and Child and Adult Care

Food Program. The proposal responded to numerous recommendations for

additional meat alternates and, in the interest of expediting the

promulgation of a final rule, the Department initially set the public

comment period for 45 days, or until August 19, 1995. Concern has been

expressed that the comment period is not long enough to allow for

informed public comment. After careful consideration, the Department

agrees that an extension of the comment period would best serve the

public. Therefore, the Department is extending the official comment

period for 15 days and will consider comments postmarked on or before

September 3, 1996.

Dated: August 9, 1996.

Yvette S. Jackson,

Acting Administrator.

[FR Doc. 96-20843 Filed 8-14-96; 8:45 am]

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