Subscriber Updates

USDA is sharing the results from its third SFA Survey on Supply Chain Disruptions and Student Participation, which examines school year 2023-24. We are also releasing a new data visualization that compares data from the second and third surveys. 

USDA is hosting the Fall 2024 Healthy Meals Summit from Oct. 21-23, 2024 as part of its $100 million Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative, also known as HMI.

FNS recently announced approximately $2.3 million in funding that will allow more children to eat school breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family.

USDA is committed to modernizing WIC and ensuring it will continue to serve participants well for decades to come.

FNS is pleased to announce the launch of a new, interactive dashboard that features state, territory, and national level data for FNS nutrition programs. Site visitors will have greater insight into critical programs that touch the lives of millions of Americans daily.  

USDA is publishing a final rule to implement the Access to Baby Formula Act. As part of the months-long, whole-of-government response to the recall-driven infant formula shortages in 2022, Congress passed legislation to support access to formula for WIC participants, even in unforeseen circumstances like disasters, emergencies and supply chain disruptions. President Biden signed the legislation into law on May 21, 2022. 

Did you know there’s a way for children in Medicaid households to be automatically eligible for free and reduced price school meals without their families completing another application? It’s called the Direct Certification with Medicaid Demonstration Project and USDA recently opened applications for more states to participate.  

FNS published a final rule on program integrity to ensure that child nutrition programs are properly operated and managed to protect federal funds and taxpayer dollars.

USDA will hold a five-day consultation series, “USDA Tribal Consultations on Barriers/Equity: Annual Progress Report & Feedback for Next Steps,” virtually April 24-May 1, 2023. 

FNS announced a $20 million cooperative agreement opportunity for an academic or nonprofit organization to improve participation and retention in the WIC program.

Today, USDA has taken action to withdraw its previously proposed rule, Revision of Categorical Eligibility in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

In line with USDA’s unwavering promise to serve America’s children well through school meal programs, the department today announced it will publish a proposed rule maintaining flexibility for schools to serve tasty meals their kids will be eager to eat. These proposed changes respond directly to the needs of nutrition professionals who are the experts on-the-ground, hearing from our children every day. 

USDA today announced it is extending the deadline for the public to comment on a pair of proposed rules on school and summer meals reforms. USDA is providing additional time to ensure those who wish to provide input do not miss out on the opportunity while dealing with the impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. 

USDA’s WIC program is a critical resource in ensuring a strong nutritional foundation for participants. Today, USDA is taking a step to gather additional information on ways to improve and maximize usage of a key tool we provide our state partners through the release of a Request for Information on the WIC National Universal Product Code Database. 

Under current rules, children are throwing 25 percent of nutrients straight into the trash can. USDA has announced a proposal to increase flexibility and decrease administrative burden for local districts, while continuing to ensure that children receive wholesome, nourishing meals they want to eat.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost through food banks and pantries. In recent years, a number of states have recognized the value of supporting donations from local farmers to their food bank networks – commonly known as Farm to Food Bank Projects.  

Technological advances are streamlining industries across the globe. To make use of these innovations for program participants, USDA today announced the award of an $8.5 million cooperative agreement with Tufts University to test and evaluate the use of telehealth innovations in delivery of USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.