Biden-Harris administration officials on Thursday praised efforts over the past four years to advance nutrition programs, expand local food markets and promote healthy eating at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack attended the virtual meeting to share the work being done at the USDA to advance food and nutrition, including a reassessment of the Thrifty Food program.
The Thrifty Food Plan establishes Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchasing power based on an assessment of the food costs of nutritious foods for a family of four.
Vilsack officials said: I recalculated my frugal foods. Plans to increase SNAP benefits by 21%. The reassessment is a requirement of the 2018 Farm Bill and must be completed again in 2026.
“I think it’s clear that some in Congress have an interest in limiting increases in SNAP benefits as prices rise and families make different choices at the grocery store,” Vilsack said. .
He said the 2021 reassessment was the first time in 45 years that plans were reassessed to examine what families actually buy, which is why the cap had been raised so significantly. He said there is.
“If you want SNAP benefits to be meaningful, you need to evaluate them regularly and you need to evaluate what’s actually happening on the ground,” Vilsack said.
Vilsack highlighted the department’s other accomplishments, including modernizing the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, making permanent a program that encourages SNAP purchases of fruits and vegetables, creating a summer EBT program, and working to reduce sugar in school lunches. mentioned.
Vilsack stressed the importance of protecting Thrifty Food’s reputation from “people who essentially want to make it budget neutral.” He also said he hopes all states will participate in the SUN Bucks summer nutrition program. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has opted out in the past and plans to do so again..
Vilsack, a former Iowa governor, said the next administration has an opportunity to push to expand and sustain these programs. He also expressed some concern that programs like WIC, which is strictly a discretionary program, could be expanded under an administration that is proposing “billions or trillions of dollars” of “discretionary budget cuts.” expressed concern.
“We all have a responsibility to try to preserve what has been done and not take two steps forward and one step back. We also recognize that there are similar opportunities at the state and local level. We have a responsibility to be advocates for food security and nutrition security,” Vilsack said.
USDA to invest in “nutrition hubs”
Vilsack also announced Thursday that the USDA is investing $4.5 million to establish four nutrition hubs to research and advance food and nutrition practices to reduce diet-related diseases.
The initiative began as a pilot project at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Thursday announcement Established additional hubs at Texas A&M, University of Hawaii, and Utah State University. Vilsack said this is another investment in the “Food is Medicine” initiative.
Each university will focus on increasing healthy programs across communities, disparities, and languages.
Mr. Vilsack highlighted efforts that need further improvement. Purchasing power of local ingredientsto strengthen local food infrastructure and invest in more competitive markets.
“It’s been an exciting four years in this field,” Vilsack said. “Now, as I leave you, I would like to leave you with an assignment. That is, there is still work left to do.”
across government work
Andrea Palm, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said: National strategy on hunger, nutrition and healthThe plan, set out by President Biden in September 2022, set out “how we as a government can work together and do better in this effort.”
“He really outlined a transformative vision to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030, and called on all of us to do our part,” Palm said. said.
She said HHS “took that call very seriously” and outlined efforts such as a Medicaid waiver to allow nutritional counseling and nutritional prescriptions. food is medicine effort.
above On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized the rule. It said it updates the definition of “healthy” and Palm helps “consumers” make healthy choices regardless of nutritional literacy.
Under the new rules, foods that contain nutrients that claim to be “healthy” must contain certain amounts of fruits, vegetables, protein, dairy products, or grains and contain saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars within certain limits. must be included in
According to a press release, the ministry is developing a “health” mark to be displayed on the front of food packages to help consumers identify foods that meet the standards.
Palm echoed Vilsack’s sentiments and said he hopes the current administration’s “tools” and “record of progress” will “continue to advance this effort.”
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