ChildCare Food Show, October 2007

Novick Brothers Nutritional Information Library

In search of ingredient statements and nutritional analyses for your products? Novick Brothers has done the work for you!

Contact Traci Hoffman with a list of products that you need information for and we will promptly send .pdfs (example) organized by item code, brand and description. You can also request a CD of the data sheets or a binder of hard copies, to be delivered by your Sales Representative.

Click here to see an example for our Chicken Fries

Every day, millions of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers leave home to spend at least part of their day in a childcare setting. Parents entrust childcare providers to provide learning opportunities for their children, preparation for school and a healthy nurturing environment. A center’s nutrition program is an integral part of this environment in order to keep young children free from hunger, promote their proper growth, and reinforce choices and habits that prevent disease and support good health.

Serving nearly 500 centers in five states, Novick Brothers focuses in presenting childcare centers with the products required to provide nutritious food programs as well as complimentary goods needed to facilitate a clean and healthy operation. Our team often assists in menu planning for child nutrition programs designed to promote healthful food practices for long-term benefits. In addition to a selection of CN products, we aim to serve as your operation’s complete resource that delivers all of your needs to your door including fresh fruit and vegetables, groceries, frozen products, dry goods, paper products and cleaning supplies. We also carry an extensive offering of baby food and formulas to satisfy CACFP requirements.

Novick Brothers is pleased to provide Food Service Solutions with Family Values to our customers to support their efforts in helping children realize their full potential.

CN Products

CN stands for Child Nutrition. It is a program run by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in cooperation with other USDA agencies. A product is labeled CN once its formulation has been evaluated by FNS to determine its contribution toward meal pattern requirements. The contribution is then stated on the official CN label.

Products eligible for CN labeling include main dish products which contribute to the meat/meat alternate component of the meal pattern requirements as well as juice and juice drink products which contain at least 50 percent full-strength juice by volume. Examples of main dish products include beef patties, cheese or meat pizzas, meat or cheese and bean burritos, egg rolls, and breaded fish portions. Beverages include such products as grape drink, fruit punch, and juice bars. Read more at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/CNlabeling/default.htm

*A complete list of the CN products that Novick Brothers carries is available upon request.

Child Care Sanitation

Hand washing is the single most important line of defense in preventing the transmission of disease-causing organisms.

Employees shall wash hands upon reporting for work; before and after handling food; before bottle feeding or serving to other children; before handling clean utensils or equipment; after toileting or handling of body fluids (e.g., saliva, nasal secretions, vomitus, feces, urine, blood, secretions from sores, pustulant discharge); after diaper changing; after handling soiled items such as garbage, mops, cloths and clothing; after being outdoors; after handling animals or animal cages; and after removing disposable gloves.

Children shall wash hands upon arrival at the child care center; after each diaper change or visit to the toilet; before eating meals or snacks; before and after water play; after outdoor activity; and after handling animals or animal cages. Hand sanitizing products may be used in lieu of hand washing while children are outdoors if hands are washed upon returning indoors.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control describes proper hand washing as:
(1) using liquid soap and tempered water;
(2) rubbing hands vigorously with soap and tempered water for 15 seconds;
(3) washing all surfaces of the hands, to include the backs of hands, palms, wrists, under fingernails and between fingers;
(4) rinsing well for ten seconds;
(5) drying hands with a paper towel or other hand-drying device; and
(6) turning off faucet with a paper towel or other method without recontamination.
There are things day-care centers can do to minimize the danger of infection caused by fecal contamination.

It's also important that the diaper-changing area is located well away from food-serving areas and that a separate sink is used for preparing food and washing dishes.

CDC recommends that only washable, preferably hard-surfaced toys be used around children still in diapers. Toys should be washed daily. Stuffed toys, if children in diapers use them, should be washed at least once a week.

The need for cleanliness is not limited to hands and playthings. All facilities and supplies at childcare centers should be washed with soap and water and then disinfected on a regular, frequent schedule.

Choking Hazards

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), each year they receive 15 reports of choking deaths to children under age 3. Some of these deaths involve items that are considered known hazards such as small toys, toy parts, balloons, balls and marbles. In addition to known hazards, such as balloons, there are many tragic deaths each year that result from hidden hazards. These are often small objects not intended for use by children but that accidentally end up in their hands and mouths.

“Parents and caregivers should stay on the lookout for small parts breaking off of toys or young children getting their hands on items intended for older siblings,” said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. “Marbles and balls are the most recognizable hazards; but everyday household items also pose choking dangers.”

Choking has long been the leading cause of toy-related deaths to young children. To help prevent these deaths, the Commission requires age-appropriate labeling on toys and products for older children that contain small parts. Toys designed for children 3 and older should be kept away from young children.

Balloons, a leading cause of toy-related deaths, are often a favorite of young children. However, un-inflated balloons and fragments from popped balloons can choke and kill a small child.

Keep small objects like small toys and parts of toys, marbles, balloons, small balls and coins off the floor and out of reach of children. Toys designed for older children should be kept out of the hands of little ones. Follow labels that give age recommendations; these age recommendations are based on safety concerns. Teach older children to help keep their toys away from younger siblings. Check the eyes and noses of stuffed animals to ensure they are properly secured. source: cpsc.gov

Food Allergies

According to Allergykids.com and FoodAllergySmart.org, any food can cause an allergic reaction, but 90% of all food allergies are caused by one of the following: wheat, eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, fish and shell fish. There are no medications that cure food allergy. Strict avoidance of the allergenic food is the only way to prevent a potentially life-threatening reaction. About 6%-8% of young children have food allergies.

Students with food allergies are a growing health concern in schools across the country. The incidence of peanut allergy – the deadliest of all the food allergies – fully doubled in children over the five-year period from 1997- 2002. According to the National Association of School Nurses (NASN):