Newsroom

Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today visited North Carolina State University to announce a grant to develop an obesity prevention program that increases access to healthy food and safe places for physical activity. The announcement was delivered as part of the first anniversary of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative.

USDA Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Under Secretary Kevin Concannon today joined San Francisco Board of Education President Hydra Mendoza in a tour of E.R. Taylor Elementary School to see how the school exemplifies First Lady Obama's Let's Move! initiative, which is dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation. They observed children participating in organized physical activity, visited the school garden, and participated in a cooking lesson. The event is one of dozens taking place around the country this week to inspire communities, families and schools to take action against childhood obesity.

USDA today announced that children placed into the foster care system by a state or court are categorically eligible to receive free meals in all USDA child nutrition programs. The expansion of categorical eligibility to foster children is a component of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 which President Obama signed into law Dec. 13, 2010.

Deputy Under Secretary Janey Thornton today joined Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District and Chef Timothy Cipriano, Executive Director, New Haven Public School Food Services, and New England Patriots' Ron Brace to unveil a new salad bar at Mauro-Sheridan Science, Technology and Communications School as part of Let's Move! Salad Bars to Schools.

Under Secretary Kevin Concannon today joined the District of Columbia State Superintendent of Education Hosanna Mahaley in a special ceremony to present Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School a USDA HealthierUS School Challenge Gold Award of Distinction. 

USDA today released the latest report that measures each state's success in reaching children and families eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. While the national SNAP participation rate was 66 percent, Reaching Those in Need: State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Rates in 2008, reports state rates varied from an estimated low of 46 percent to a high of 94 percent.

Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan joined U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer today at George Washington Carver Elementary School in Lexington Park, Md. to highlight the rapid implementation and importance of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act that reauthorizes USDA's child nutrition programs and is already providing benefits to children across the country.

USDA today announced the nationwide expansion of at-risk afterschool meals to promote improvements in health and nutrition in Child Care settings.

USDA today published a proposed rule to update the nutrition standards for meals served through the school lunch and breakfast programs. The new proposed will raise standards for the first time in 15 years to help improve the health and nutrition of nearly 32 million kids that participate in school meal programs every school day,

The USDA today published a proposed rule to update the nutrition standards for meals served through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs as part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

El Departamento de Agricultura publicó hoy una propuesta de ley para actualizar los estándares nutricionales de los alimentos servidos en el Programa Nacional de Almuerzos Escolares y el Programa de Desayunos Escolares. La propuesta forma parte de la Ley Saludable de Niños Libres de Hambre 2010 o Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, la cual fue firmada por el Presidente Obama en Diciembre 12, 2010.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today reminded teams participating in the Recipes for Healthy Kids Competition to submit their recipes. Teams across the country are working to improve school meals and the health of children across the nation through the creation of exciting new recipes for inclusion on school lunch menus. 

Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the award of demonstration grant to Texas to test new ways to provide nutrition assistance and access to healthy foods to low-income children during the summer.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the award of a demonstration grant to Missouri to test new ways to provide nutrition assistance and access to healthy foods to low-income children during the summer. The $230,650 Missouri grant is part of the Obama Administration's efforts to use improved approaches to increase access to nutritious meals and snacks during gap periods. By working with state agencies, the pilot projects aim to reduce the level of food insecurity among children in the summer months.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the award of a demonstration grant to Connecticut to test new ways to provide nutrition assistance and access to healthy foods to low-income children during the summer. The grant is part of the Obama Administration's efforts to use improved approaches to increase access to nutritious meals and snacks during gap periods. By working with state agencies, the pilot projects aim to reduce the level of food insecurity among children in the summer months.

Deputy Administrator Audrey Rowe today recognized Minshew Elementary School in McKinney, Texas for their excellence in school nutrition.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the award of demonstration grant to Michigan to test new ways to provide nutrition assistance and access to healthy foods to low-income children during the summer. The grant is part of the Obama Administration's efforts to use improved approaches to increase access to nutritious meals and snacks during gap periods. By working with state agencies, the pilot projects aim to reduce the level of food insecurity among children in the summer months.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the award of a demonstration grant to Oregon to test new ways to provide nutrition assistance and access to healthy foods to low-income children during the summer. The grant is part of the Obama Administration's efforts to use improved approaches to increase access to nutritious meals and snacks during gap periods. By working with state agencies, the pilot projects aim to reduce the level of food insecurity among children in the summer months.

Under Secretary Kevin Concannon  joined Sesame Workshop for their launch of a multimedia outreach initiative, "Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget," designed to help low-income families cope with limited access to affordable and nutritious food.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today issued the following statement regarding House passage of S. 3307 "The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act."