food policy

What’s in the Nutrition Title of the (Food and) Farm Bill?

, Food Systems & Health Analyst

December 20, 2017 3:27 PM EDT

We’ve been talking a lot about the federal legislation known as the Farm Bill, a major law governing key US food and agriculture programs that’s up for re-authorization during 2018. And while most of the dozen sections or “titles” of the 2014 Farm Bill are deep in the weeds of agriculture, the title governing nutrition programs is actually the largest, and by a long shot. It accounts for approximately 80 percent of the bill’s spending, and its programs are among the most important resources in the federal safety net. Read more >

Bookmark and Share

Photo: wisley/CC BY 2.0, Flickr

If It Ain’t Broke, Defund It: Trump’s Budget Writes Off SNAP—and With It His Supporters

, Food Systems & Health Analyst

May 23, 2017 12:26 PM EDT

Today, the Trump administration released a budget proposal for FY 2018 that would drastically reduce funding for SNAP—the largest nutrition assistance program in the federal safety net—by a full 28 percent over the course of the next ten years. This amounts to a $193 billion dollar cut from a program with a yearly budget of less than $75 billion. Read more >

Photo: wisley/CC BY SA (Flickr)
Bookmark and Share

Photo: USDA

From Soup to Nuts: Science-based Recommendations for FDA’s “Healthy” Label

, Food Systems & Health Analyst

May 1, 2017 2:49 PM EDT

If you wanted to offer your two cents on how the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines “healthy” food, you’ll have to keep those pennies in your pocket for now. The public comment period closed on April 26, and the people—more than a thousand in total—have spoken. Read more >

Photo: USDA
Bookmark and Share

Photo: Marco Verch/BY SA (Flickr)

Helping the FDA Define “Healthy” Food Labels

, Food Systems & Health Analyst

March 16, 2017 11:54 AM EDT

As a registered dietitian, my perspective on healthy foods is pretty simple: there aren’t any.

Before you write to my accrediting board, let me explain. Read more >

Photo: Marco Verch/BY-SA (Flickr)
Bookmark and Share

Photo: Kristin & Jordan Hayman/flickr

Even Without an Agriculture Secretary, Trump’s Cabinet Says Plenty about Food and Water Plans

, senior analyst, Food and Environment

January 13, 2017 10:24 AM EDT

It’s official. This week’s Veterans Affairs nomination leaves the Trump administration’s Secretary of Agriculture position as the last cabinet slot to be filled. With his inauguration just 7 days away, the president-elect still hasn’t announced his pick for this vital position that touches every American’s life at least three times a day.

But while we wait (and wait, and wait) to see who will run the department that shapes our nation’s food and farm system, it may be instructive to take a look at what some of his other personnel choices say about his intentions in this realm. And particularly, what the Trump team could mean for two of our most basic human needs—food and water. Read more >

Bookmark and Share