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Resource | Research and Data | General/Other Evaluation of the Implementation of Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives (FINI): Final Report

This study represents the final findings of the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant (FINI) Evaluation. The study Includes information about the amount of incentives issued and redeemed at FINI retailers and characteristics of the retailers involved in the grant program. Overall, over 71 percent of benefits issued were redeemed. Redemption rates were highest at retailers that specialized in selling fruits and vegetables. 

11/03/2021
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Study of Nutrition and Activity in Childcare Settings in USDA’s CACFP

Centers and family daycare homes participating in CACFP play an important role in supporting the health and wellness of the children they serve. The Study of Nutrition and Activity in Childcare Settings  is the first nationally representative, comprehensive assessment of the CACFP. Data were collected in program year 2016–17 from CACFP providers and participating children on nutritional quality of meals served, nutrient intake of participating children, meal costs and revenues, and more. Findings serve as an important baseline for the subsequent updates to the meal pattern and nutrition standards, which were implemented in October 2017. 

10/25/2021
Resource | Research and Data | Benefit Content/Cost Barriers that Constrain the Adequacy of SNAP Allotments

This study identifies the barriers that SNAP participants face when trying to achieve a healthy diet through a nationally representative survey of SNAP participants.

06/23/2021
Resource | Research and Data | Benefit Content/Cost WIC Participant and Program Characteristics 2018 Food Packages and Costs Report

​​This report supplements FNS administrative data on total food costs by estimating the average monthly food costs for each WIC participant category and food package type. It also estimates total pre- and post-rebate dollars spent on 18 major categories of WIC-eligible foods in FY 2018.

01/11/2021
Resource | Research and Data | Benefit Content/Cost Exploring the Causes of State Variation in SNAP Administrative Costs

The Federal Government fully funds SNAP benefits, but FNS and state agencies share administrative expenses, with each paying about 50 percent. State administrative costs per case varies widely by state. This study explores a number of factors, including state economic conditions, SNAP caseload characteristics, state SNAP policies, to try to explain the variation by state.

06/26/2019
Resource | Research and Data | Impacts/Evaluations The Evaluation of Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives Interim Report

The Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive grant program provided $100 million to fund and evaluate projects that were intended to increase fruit and vegetable purchases among SNAP participants by providing incentives at the point of purchase. 

05/07/2019
Resource | Research and Data | Participation Characteristics Characteristics of SNAP Households: FY 2017

The characteristics report is published annually, dating back to 1976, and provides information about the demographic and economic circumstances of SNAP households. Using a sample of SNAP Quality Control data that is representative at both the state and national level, this report summarizes the characteristics of households and individuals who participated in SNAP in fiscal year 2017.

02/26/2019
Resource | Research and Data | Benefit Content/Cost Foods Typically Purchased by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Households

This study uses calendar year 2011 point-of-sale transaction data from a leading grocery retailer to examine the food choices of SNAP and non-SNAP households . On average, each month's transaction data contained over 1 billion records of food items bought by 26.5 million households in 127 million unique transactions.

11/18/2016
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Feasibility Study of Capturing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Purchases at the Point of Sale

This study examined the feasibility of creating a data collection system capable of directly and automatically providing USDA with item-level data on purchases made by SNAP households. Data would be captured at the point of sale from purchases made using EBT cards.

11/18/2016
Page updated: September 16, 2025