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Customer service is a priority for this Department and taking stakeholder input seriously is an integral part of ensuring optimal service is delivered. Today’s final rule adjusting timelines for the Child and Adult Care Food Program requirements is the latest example of this.

Reflecting the responsibility that USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service shares with state SNAP agencies to operate the program with integrity, today the agency released an updated edition of its Keys to Payment Accuracy information resources

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 will publish in the Federal Register a proposed rule, “Streamlining Program Requirements and Improving Integrity in the Summer Food Service Program,” providing flexibilities that will allow local SFSP operators to spend more time serving children wholesome meals and less time mired in red tape. 

USDA today announced $5 million for investments in customer service projects to improve and modernize application processing in SNAP.  

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. 

Under current rules, children are throwing 25 percent of nutrients straight into the trash can. This is not serving children well. 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.

On August 8, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service celebrated 50 remarkable years of service dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through our nation’s vital nutrition programs.  It was a special moment to reflect on how these valuable programs, and the laws that authorize and shape them, have grown and evolved to meet changing food and nutrition needs, always with an eye to good stewardship.

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 (WIC).

As part of USDA’s continuing collaboration with its state partners to enhance customer service while maintaining program integrity in SNAP, FNS is expanding the work that vendors and private staff/contractors can do at SNAP call centers—ending the constraint that only state agency employees may handle certain tasks.

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.  

Underscoring its commitment to customer input on its actions,  USDA today sent a notice for publication in the Federal Register to re-open the comment period for the “SNAP  Requirements for Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents” proposed rule.

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. 

The 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s schedule has been extended by one month, in consideration of new demands on Committee members’ schedules due to COVID-19. USDA and HHS continue to plan for the release of the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans by the end of the year.

USDA today announced a public invitation to submit ideas on food crediting, the system that defines how each food item fits into a meal for the National School Lunch Program and other federal child nutrition programs. The information collected will help USDA officials better understand its diverse stakeholders’ perspectives on navigating today’s evolving food and nutrition environment.

Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced new contacts to encourage communication with USDA to help feed kids and ensure the United States food supply chain remains strong in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking public input concerning a proposal to provide more information to the public about the amount of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits used by participants at individual grocery stores and retailers. USDA's goal is to provide as much transparency as possible on retailer data within the limits of the law. In doing so, USDA will consider input from a wide variety of stakeholders through a Request for Information (RFI) published today in the Federal Register. The RFI seeks public comment on several questions related to the transparency of SNAP retailer redemption information.

Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced approval of a request from Wyoming to provide online purchasing of food to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households. This approval will allow Wyoming to expedite the implementation of online purchasing with currently authorized SNAP online retailers with a target start date to be announced at a later time.

Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced approval of a request from Wisconsin to provide online purchasing of food to SNAP households. This approval will allow Wisconsin to expedite the implementation of online purchasing with currently authorized SNAP online retailers with a target start date to be announced at a later time.

Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced approval of a request from Rhode Island to provide online purchasing of food to SNAP households. This approval will allow Rhode Island to expedite the implementation of online purchasing with currently authorized SNAP online retailers with a target start date to be announced at a later time.