Nutrition

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- Following an announcement by the U.N. Food Agency of a record one billion people in the world who go hungry, U.S. Senator Bob Casey today took to the Senate floor to urge his Senate colleagues to take action on global food security and pass the Global Food Security Act.

“This is a humanitarian crisis of immense proportions that we can go a long way towards solving,” Senator Casey said. “This crisis is solvable with a combination of assistance and emphasis on providing small farmers around the world with the know-how, technology and means to provide for themselves.”    » read more »

WASHINGTON — The National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program should adopt a new set of nutrient targets and standards for menu planning, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The recommended targets and standards would update and improve the programs' abilities to meet children's nutritional needs and foster healthy eating habits.    » read more »

"Step Up To The Plate" Will Focus On Food Provision As Well As Medical Intervention For Children Suffering From Acute Malnutrition

Oct 19 2009 -- New York -- Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) announced today that the Firm will launch "Step Up to the Plate," a global initiative to reduce childhood malnutrition and save lives worldwide. This two-pronged approach is designed to address malnutrition by providing food to children most in need in developed nations, while also addressing the medical effects of children already experiencing malnutrition in the developing world.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2009 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of Princeton-based Mathematica Policy Research to conduct a major survey on food choices and expenditures by U.S. households – the National Household Food Purchase and Acquisition Study (NHFPAS).

"Helping American families improve their overall health is one of my top priorities," said Vilsack. "This ambitious 5-year effort will fill in critical gaps in existing data on the food purchases of U.S. households and be invaluable in assessing and enhancing the effectiveness of USDA's food assistance programs for low-income families."    » read more »

October 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today applauded a study that shows that people who live in “healthy neighborhoods,” or neighborhoods with safe sidewalks, parks, public transportation and access to fresh fruits and vegetables, are 38 percent less likely to develop diabetes than people who live in less healthy neighborhoods. Diabetes is estimated to account for over $116 billion in medical costs in the U.S. each year.    » read more »

Washington, Oct 8 - Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) yesterday voted to pass legislation that will enhance food safety, boost rural economies, protect Americans against price fluctuations for necessities, and help feed struggling families. The Agriculture Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010 passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 263 to 162. The bill provides funding for the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Farm Credit Administration (FCA).    » read more »

Bill expands role of GF Nutrition Center, supports other research to help farmers and ranchers

October 9, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- The United States Congress has given final approval to an appropriations bill that includes investments secured by U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Congressman Earl Pomeroy in North Dakota’s agriculture research industry. These critical agriculture and nutrition research projects will give a boost to the state’s economy and help develop new ways for family farmers and ranchers to fight pests and address other problems.    » read more »

Bill contains Cheyney University project sponsored by Congressman Sestak to support workforce development in his District

October 7, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) voted to pass the Conference Report of the Fiscal Year 2010 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.    » read more »

October 7, 2009 - WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman John P. Murtha, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a $121.1 billion fiscal year 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill that includes funding for two local projects. The House and Senate conferenced this bill, which must now be passed by the full Senate before heading to the President for his signature. The House passed the bill 263-162.    » read more »

Commodity Supplemental Food Program currently serves 41,000 in metro Detroit

October 7, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – The House of Representatives approved the annual agriculture appropriations bill today by a vote of 263 to 162. Included in the legislation is an increase in funding, fought for by Rep. Sander Levin, for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), a monthly food delivery service which provides nutritious meals to nearly half a million people across the country.

In the Detroit area, the program is administered by Focus: HOPE, a local non-profit and long-time advocate for the program, which serves 41,000 people in the area, 35,000 of whom are seniors.    » read more »

October 6, 2009 -- Restrictions on fast-food chain restaurants in South Los Angeles are not addressing the main differences between neighborhood food environments and are unlikely to improve the diet of residents or reduce obesity, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

Researchers from RAND Health found that the South Los Angeles region has no more fast-food chain establishments on a per capita basis than other parts of the city, but rather many more small food stores and other food outlets.

Those outlets are more likely to be the source of high-calorie snacks and soda consumed substantially more often by residents of South Los Angeles as compared to other parts of the city, according to the study published online by the journal Health Affairs.    » read more »

October 05, 2009 -- Fewer secondary schools in the United States are selling less nutritious foods and beverages, such as candy and soda, according to a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The greatest improvements were seen in states that have adopted strong school nutrition standards and policies for foods and beverages sold outside school meal programs.

The report, “Availability of Less Nutritious Snack Foods and Beverages in Secondary Schools – Selected States, 2002-2008,” was published today in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.    » read more »

CDC Issues First State by State Report

September 29, 2009 -- No U.S. state is meeting national objectives for consumption of fruits and vegetables, according to the first report to provide state–by–state data about fruit and vegetable consumption and policies that may help Americans eat more fruits and vegetables.

“State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables, 2009”was released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.    » read more »

Team Nutrition Initiative Helps Combat Childhood Obesity, Promote Physical Activity to Enable Better Future for Nation's Youth

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2009 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today awarded approximately $5.8 million in Team Nutrition Training Grants to 18 states to help children develop good nutrition and physical activity habits for healthier lifestyles. This funding provides schools with nutrition education materials for children and parents as well as technical assistance for communities and school food service providers.    » read more »

Applauds committee passage of bill to protect military families from being cut out of critical child and maternal nutrition programs

July 8, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee included legislation that would protect military families and kids from being cut out of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and child nutrition programs in its Agriculture Appropriations.    » read more »