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Resource | Policy Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA); Interpretation of “Federal Public Benefit”

This notice sets forth the interpretation that the U.S. Department of Agriculture uses for the term “Federal public benefit” as used in Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. In doing so, this notice supersedes any prior interpretation in any notice or other document issued by any USDA agency. This notice also describes and preliminarily identifies the USDA programs that provide “Federal public benefits” within the scope of PRWORA.

07/10/2025
Resource | Federal Register Notices Food Distribution Program: Value of Donated Foods (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025)

This notice announces the national average value of donated foods or, where applicable, cash in lieu of donated foods, to be provided in school year 2025 (July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025) for each lunch served by schools participating in the National School Lunch Program, and for each lunch and supper served by institutions participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

07/09/2024
Resource | Policy State Agency Food Safety Inspections Report for SY 2022-23

This memorandum and attachment provides guidance regarding the State Agency School Food Safety Inspections Report for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for SY 2022-23.

04/27/2023
Resource | Policy FD-152: Discontinuance of the High Security Seal Requirement for USDA Foods Deliveries

This general USDA Foods guidance explains that the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service will discontinue the requirement for vendors to use high security seals to secure USDA Foods deliveries as of July 1, 2023. 

04/05/2023
Resource | Policy FD-40: Inventory Draw Down in USDA Foods Processing (Revised)

This memorandum provides clarification on the value pass through methods available under 7 CFR 250.36 and on the timing of processor inventory reductions of USDA Foods under each system.

07/16/2021
Resource | Policy USDA Foods Program Disaster Manual

This USDA Foods in disasters guidance manual contains important information for persons in FNS headquarters, FNS regional offices, and distributing agencies, which include state distributing agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations that are charged with the responsibility of providing USDA Foods to disaster relief organizations in the event of a disaster, emergency, or situation of distress.

06/03/2021
Resource | Policy State Agency Food Safety Inspections Report for SY 2018-19

This memorandum provides guidance regarding continuation of the food safety inspections reporting requirement under the NSLP and SBP for fiscal year 2019.

04/11/2019
Resource | Policy Memos Management of Donated Food Inventories at Processors

This memorandum addresses inventory limitations and requirements that USDA Foods processors must follow when manufacturing processed end products for use in child nutrition programs.

04/02/2019
Resource | Policy Instruction 709-5: Shipment and Receipt of USDA Foods

This instruction establishes the general USDA Foods guidance for standards and procedures that the state distributing agency, Indian Tribal Organization, or other consignee must follow in receiving shipments of USDA Foods, and conveys established responsibilities for other entities such as USDA Foods vendors and carriers.

03/13/2019
Resource | FAQs/Q&As Farm to School - Food Safety FAQs
02/27/2019
Page updated: October 14, 2021