In Brief: Food Assistance

The National School Lunch Program: Background, Trends, and Issues
Report covers participant characteristics of the Nation’s second-largest food and nutrition program and focuses on rising costs, changing nutritional requirements, and program access and integrity. July 2008

The Income Volatility See-Saw: Implications for School Lunch
ERS examines income volatility among households with children and the implications for eligibility in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). August 2006

Profiles of Participants in the National School Lunch Program: Data From Two National Surveys
ERS reports new estimates of characteristics (e.g., race, ethnicity, household composition, poverty level) of children participating in the National School Lunch Program using two national surveys. August 2006

Certifying Eligibility in the National School Lunch Program
Nutritionally balanced National School Lunch Program (NSLP) meals are available in almost all public and many private schools; certification errors occur in some instances. July 2003

A Healthy School Meal Environment
Schools can foster an environment that encourages healthy food choices by participants in the NSLP and the School Breakfast Program (SBP). Factors include: (1) the nutritional quality, variety, and acceptability of program meals; (2) meal scheduling; and (3) nutrition education. July 2003

Do Healthy School Meals Cost More?
With child obesity soaring and juvenile diabetes and hypertension on the rise, there is strong policy interest in the potential of USDA school meals to promote healthy diets and weights—and in whether this would increase program costs. July 2003

Competitive Foods: Soft Drinks vs. Milk
“Competitive foods”—those available in schools in addition to USDA-provided school meals—have lower nutritional quality than school meals. A case study focuses on competition between milk and soft drinks. July 2003

Food Stamps and Obesity: What Do We Know?
Results from reviewed studies indicate that for most Food Stamp Program participants, use of food stamp benefits does not result in an increase in Body Mass Index or the likelihood of being overweight or obese. March 2008

Can Food Stamps Do More To Improve Food Choices? An Economic Perspective
Eight economic information bulletins compile evidence to address the question of whether the Food Stamp Program could do more to encourage healthful food choices. September 2007

The 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricanes’ Effect on Food Stamp Program Caseloads and Benefits Issued
ERS estimates that the 2005 hurricanes increased total food stamp benefits issued by over $1 billion, most going to people in the five Gulf Coast States. February 2007

How Unemployment Affects the Food Stamp Program
The link between unemployment and food stamps is analyzed, with emphasis on the potential magnitude of economic and policy changes on food stamp caseloads. October 2002

Assessing the Self-Sufficiency of Food Stamp Leavers
The 1996 welfare reform legislation made major changes in the welfare system, including . work-related requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents. October 2002

Effects of Changes in Food Stamp Expenditures Across the U.S. Economy
The Food Stamp Program provides an economic stimulus during recessions if the Government funds the increase in program expenditures through emergency financing, rather than through increased taxes or other budget-neutral means. August 2002

Recent Trends and Economic Issues in the WIC Infant Formula Rebate Program
State agencies receive rebates from manufacturers of infant formula purchased under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). But net wholesale prices bid by competing manufacturers have increased in recent years. August 2006

Nutrient Adequacy of Children Participating in WIC
Economic brief summarizes two recent ERS-sponsored studies providing new assessments of nutrient intakes of WIC children and those not participating in this USDA food program. April 2006

Interstate Variation in WIC Food Package Costs
In one of the few studies to examine the degree to which food prices, caseloads, and cost-containment practices influence costs of State food benefits packages under the WIC program, ERS found that variations in retail food prices across the Nation played the largest role in State variations. January 2005

WIC and the Retail Price of Infant Formula
Has the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) along with its infant formula rebate program significantly affected infant formula prices faced by non-WIC consumers? June 2004

Assessment of WIC Cost-Containment Practices
Congressionally requested study on cost-containment practices in the Nutrition Program for WIC program indicated often-substantial food cost savings; few adverse outcomes for WIC participants; and low administrative costs of cost-containment practices. July 2003

WIC and Breastfeeding Rates
Breastfeeding rates among women participating in WIC, although improving, continue to be significantly lower than the Healthy People 2010 target established by the Department of Health and Human Services. July 2003

Estimating Eligibility and Participation in WIC
The number of participants in WIC has increased dramatically since the program began in 1974. USDA’s annual estimates of the number of people eligible to participate in the WIC program are used to develop budget requests for WIC. July 2003

Moving Public Assistance Recipients Into the Labor Force, 1996-2000
ERS examined some labor market impacts of the "welfare-to-work" provisions of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. May 2004

Reforming Welfare: What Does It Mean for Rural Areas?
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act dramatically altered the social safety net for poor Americans, including the 7 million people living in poverty in nonmetro areas. Results have varied in rural and urban areas. June 2002

The Food Assistance Landscape: FY 2007 Annual Report
The 2007 annual report examines trends in USDA’s food assistance programs, including expenditure levels and participation in the various programs. May 2008

How Low-Income Households Allocate Their Food Budget Relative to the Cost of the Thrifty Food Plan
ERS examined how low-income households allocate their budget relative to the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) for food-at- home purchases. The TFP is a food shopping guide to help low-income households achieve a nutritious diet. August 2006

The USDA Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program Evaluation
Getting kids to eat more fruits and vegetables can be a significant challenge. A recent ERS study found one program was very successful in achieving the objective—USDA’s Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program (FVPP). August 2003

Tiering Increases CACFP Sponsors’ Administrative Tasks
The two-tiered meal reimbursement system instituted in 1997 within the child care homes portion of the Child and Adult Care Food Program added new duties for sponsoring organizations; ERS examined how these new duties have affected the sponsoring organizations’ administrative tasks. July 2003

Reimbursement Tiering Improves Targeting but Decreases Participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
Prior to the 1997 changes in the Child and Adult Care Food Program reimbursement system, 21 percent of the children served were from low-income families. Post-tiering, that number rose to 45 percent. July 2003

Childhood Obesity and the Role of USDA
Rapid increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children is a serious U.S. public health concern. ERS addresses the potential for USDA’s child nutrition programs in reducing childhood obesity. July 2003

Importance of Child Nutrition Programs to Agriculture
ERS examined the impact of USDA child-nutrition programs on U.S. farm production, value-added agricultural products, and agricultural jobs. July 2003