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Resource | Data | Cost Study USDA Food Plans

USDA produces four food plans outlining practical, nutritious diets at successively higher cost levels: the Thrifty, Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Food Plans. The Thrifty Food Plan serves as the basis for maximum allotments in SNAP.

08/03/2023
Resource | Research, Analysis & Background Initial Study Plan: Thrifty Food Plan, 2026

This document provides the initial study plan for the reevaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, 2026. This initial study plan is based on information available as of April 2023. The USDA, FNS intends to publish a final study plan by early 2026.

05/31/2023
Resource | Research, Analysis & Background | General/Other Food Safety Research: Farm to School

FNS advances food safety education and practices in federal nutrition assistance programs through research conducted by the Center for Food Safety in Child Nutrition Programs (the Center). To better understand food safety concerns associated with fresh produce and farm to school activities, the Center conducted a study.

03/09/2023
Resource | Research | Food Security USDA Nutrition Education Coordination Report to Congress, FY 2021

USDA's nutrition assistance programs touch the lives of one in four American consumers annually and the nutrition education efforts associated with select programs offer a powerful opportunity to promote food security and improve dietary quality among eligible individuals and families.

08/25/2022
Resource | Research | Nutrition Education Evaluation of the FY 2016 Team Nutrition Training Grants

In September 2016, FNS awarded Team Nutrition Training Grants to 14 state agencies that administer the USDA’s NSLP, SBP and CACFP. This TNTG cohort was different than previous cohorts because, for the first time, grantees were asked to outline a plan to evaluate some or all of the interventions they would implement with grant funding.

06/15/2021
Resource | Research | Cost Study Expenditures on Children by Families

Expenditures on Children by Families provides estimates of the cost of raising children from birth through age 17 for major budgetary components.

03/26/2019
Resource | Research Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review

Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review, formerly the Nutrition Evidence Library, is a team of scientists from USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion who specialize in conducting food- and nutrition-related systematic reviews.

02/05/2019
Resource | Research, Analysis & Background Health and Medicine Division Study

CNPP commissioned the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, Health and Medicine Division to conduct an independent study on the process to update the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

01/31/2019
Resource | Research Analyses of the Contributing Factors Associated With Foodborne Outbreaks in School Settings (2000–2010)

The purpose of the authors’ study was to examine the role of contributing factors in school foodborne outbreaks. Contamination factors accounted for the greatest proportion (49.2%) of outbreaks involving some level of food handling interaction by a school food service worker, followed by proliferation (34.9%) and survival factors (15.9%). Over 56% of all illnesses were associated with norovirus and food service worker practices.

03/01/2015
Resource | Data Nutrient Content of the U.S. Food Supply, 1909-2010

Excel tables present historical data on the nutrient content of the U.S. food supply on the amounts of nutrients per capita per day in food available for consumption and percentage contributions of nutrients by major food groups.

06/09/2014
Page updated: October 14, 2021