Nutrition

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 »

Highlights USDA's Summer Food Service Program That Helps Feed Hungry Kids During Summer Months

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2009 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today took part in the Obama Administration's 'United We Serve' initiative by serving breakfast to kids at Morgan Day Care in Silver Spring, Md. Merrigan was joined by Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Earl "Buddy" Hance, and together they shared nutrition tips with pre-school children at the day care center.

Morgan Day Care participates in USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program and runs the Summer Food Service Program at nearby Piney Branch Elementary School.    » read more »

Senators, Public Health Community & Restaurant Industry Reach Historic Agreement to Provide Nutrition Information at Chain Restaurants

June 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – A bipartisan coalition of senators on the Senate healthcare committees, as well as numerous public health organizations and the restaurant industry today announced an agreement that would require chain restaurants to list calories on their menus and menu boards.

The compromise combines key elements of the Menu Education and Labeling (MEAL) Act, sponsored by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and the Labeling Education and Nutrition (LEAN) Act, sponsored by Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).    » read more »

Ohio Ranks 15th in Nation for Food Insecurity; Legislation Would Expand USDA Program to Include Ohio

June 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced his support for legislation that would expand existing United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) after-school nutrition programs to include Ohio and 39 other states. The After-School Flexibility to Expand Reimbursement for School Meals Act (AFTERSchool Meals Act), introduced by Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Dick Lugar (R-IN), and cosponsored by Brown, would make institutions eligible for reimbursement for meals provided to at-risk school children during after-school hours.    » read more »

Washington, D.C. -- May 24, 2009 -- Today, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) wrote President Barack Obama urging him to clarify the decision made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to terminate the Philadelphia School District’s Universal Feeding pilot program.

“While I appreciate the administration’s offers of assistance to the Philadelphia School District as it transitions out of the pilot program, the unacceptable result of the transition to paper applications will be children missing meals,” Senator Specter wrote. “If your administration does, in fact, intend to end the program this school year, I would appreciate a clear statement to that effect, so that I and others can introduce immediate legislation to extend the program.”    » read more »

Assists Parents, Improves Child Nutrition, Cuts Costs of Chronic Diseases

May 19, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - As part of a broad agenda to assist parents and improve child nutrition, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand wants the nation to follow New York City's lead and require nutrition facts on all chain restaurant menus.

The first New York Senator to serve on the Agriculture Committee in 40 years, Senator Gillibrand announced last week that she is working with Chairman Tom Harkin and co-sponsoring the Menu Education and Labeling (MEAL) Act to require all restaurants with at least 20 locations to post nutrition facts on all menus, menu boards and drive through lanes.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, May 8, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced more than $300,000 in grant awards to eight state agencies to conduct administrative reviews of school meals programs. The Administrative Review and Training Grants support states in their efforts to increase operational accuracy in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs.

"The National School Lunch and Breakfast programs are essential to the well-being of our children, especially among those that are nutritionally at risk," said Secretary Vilsack. "This effort will help states enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of these critical programs so that benefits are provided to needy children in the best way possible."    » read more »

Purchases Target Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs

WASHINGTON, May 4, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture's intention to purchase up to $25 million of dry beans and up to $16.3 million of processed apple products for federal nutrition assistance programs.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) purchases a variety of high-quality food products each year to support the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and the Emergency Food Assistance Program. USDA also makes emergency food purchases for distribution to victims of natural disasters.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2009 - Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today announced that approximately 200 million pounds of nonfat dry milk will be transferred from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to USDA's Food and Nutrition Service for use in domestic feeding programs. The goal is to help support both low-income families struggling to put nutritious food on their tables and dairy farmers who have been challenged by high feed costs and low dairy prices.    » read more »

Seniors and SNAP recipients to see increase in benefits

WORCESTER – Saturday, March 21, 2009 – As part of his Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Governor Deval Patrick today joined Senator John Kerry to announce more than $300 million in federal recovery funds to help boost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and to increase nutritional services for seniors.

The Elderly Nutrition Program will receive $2.1 million – $1.4 million allocated for nutrition programs at senior centers, and $700,000 allocated for home-delivered nutrition programs.    » read more »

Approximately 14 million meals to be provided through Recovery Act, Funding Will Support Community Programs Struggling to Serve Seniors

March 18, 2009 -- Vice President Joe Biden announced today that the Department of Health and Human Services will award $100 million in Recovery Act funding to provide meals to tens of thousands of low-income older Americans in need. The funding is expected to provide nearly 14 million meals nationwide.    » read more »

$2.8 million will help provide meals for 3,000 seniors

19, 2009 -- TRENTON - New Jersey will receive nearly $2.8 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds that will help Senior Nutrition programs provide tens of thousands of meals to an additional 3,000 seniors around the state, Governor Corzine announced today.

“This funding could not come at a more critical time as our seniors face rising costs and struggle to afford the nutritious meals that will help to keep them active and healthy,” said Governor Corzine. “The Senior Nutrition Program is one of New Jersey’s most important and least expensive tools to avoid nursing home placement for this vulnerable population.”    » read more »