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SDLA Compliance Resource

Submit the Federal Food-Safety Inspection Survey

A site-by-site CNIPS accounting of required health inspections—not a substitute for obtaining inspections, correcting findings, or keeping reports available.

  • School Nutrition
  • Food Safety
  • CNIPS
Date(s)September 25, 2026
Applies toEvery school food authority participating in federal School Nutrition Programs, including group homes

In Plain Language: Report in the 2026–27 CNIPS module how many qualifying food-safety inspections each applicable site received during 2025–26 and explain sites reporting zero or one inspection as directed.

Why this matters

The survey gives CDE and USDA evidence of inspection access and compliance. Reporting a number without reconciling the health-department record can conceal missed inspections, incorrect site mapping, or unresolved safety findings.

Primary ownership

Primary owner: school nutrition food-safety lead. Partners: site managers, facilities/risk management, local or county environmental health department, group-home administrator, CNIPS administrator, and authorized representative.

Operational workflow

  1. 1. Inventory every site that served NSLP/SBP meals during 2025–26 and map it to the CNIPS site list.
  2. 2. Collect official inspection reports and count qualifying inspections by site.
  3. 3. Investigate sites with zero or one inspection and document the required explanation and follow-up.
  4. 4. Enter the survey in the 2026–27 CNIPS module and independently compare entries to the control roster.
  5. 5. Submit by September 25 and retain the final survey, reports, explanations, and corrective-action evidence.

Implementation pathway

Site roster
Inspection reports
Exceptions/follow-up
CNIPS reconcile
Submit

Evidence to retain

  • Site-level control roster
  • Environmental-health inspection reports
  • Zero/one-inspection explanations
  • Corrective actions and communications
  • Final CNIPS survey/status

Official guidance and help

Source review completed August 30, 2026. Verify current CDE, USDA, CNIPS, local eligibility, fiscal, and food-safety instructions before acting.