USDA 2019 Update

1. USDA 2019 Update Donna Johnson-Bailey, MPH, RD Senior Nutrition Advisor USDA Food and Nutrition ServiceJune 9, 2019

2. USDA Year In Review • FNS Program Updates • relevant legislative and regulatory activities • 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act • resource and research highlights • Dietary Reference Intakes • potassium • sodium • Dietary Guidelines for Americans • National Institute of Food and Agriculture • Economic Research Service

3. The 2018 Farm Bill Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 signed into law December 20th, 2018  Reauthorizes funding through FY2023 and modifies Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs that address: rural development research and extension activities forestry energy horticulture crop insurance • commodity support • conservation • trade and international food aid • nutrition assistance • farm credit

4. FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE(FNS)

5. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program(SNAP) • 2018 Farm Bill Provision: Re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan • Currently, USDA has the following four food plans: • Thrifty Food Plan – the basis for SNAP allotments • Low-Cost Food Plan • Moderate-Cost Food Plan • Liberal Food Plan • Revisions will occur every 5 years beginning in 2022

6. SNAP: Online Purchasing Pilot • Pilot occurring in select states and includes largest retailers • Participants will be able to select and pay for their groceries online during the two-year pilot • Only SNAP households with electronic benefit transfer cards will participate in the pilot • Lessons learned are expected to inform future efforts

7. SNAP-Ed Reporting Requirements 2018 Farm Bill Requires: • States to address new reporting requirements including performance indicators and evaluations • FNS will develop guidance about revised reporting requirements and may define through rulemaking • Consultation with National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) on the administration of SNAP-Ed; formalizes relationship • Requires FNS to submit an annual Report to Congress for SNAP-Ed in consultation with NIFA

8. SNAP-Ed Toolkit • Online toolkit offers strategies and interventions to encourage use of evidence-based, multi-level interventions for obesity prevention • In 2019, FNS led a peer-review process to expand this resource • Beginning in early fall of 2019, peer-approved interventions will be available online

9. Study: Analysis of SNAP-Ed Data for All States Study Objectives: • assess adherence of planned programming to what was delivered • assess the variation in planned costs versus actual expenditures • identify programs commonly used by States • determine how States are using interventions from the SNAP-Ed toolkit and using the Evaluation Framework guidance • assess if SNAP-Ed reporting collects needed information to determine performance

10. Analysis of SNAP-Ed: Methods Data Source: SNAP-Ed documentation from FY 2014-2016 • State Plans and associated amendments and approval letters • Annual Reports • analyzed using qualitative data extraction methods • Education and Administrative Reporting System (EARS) • summarized using descriptive statistics

11. Analysis of SNAP-Ed: Findings

12. Analysis of SNAP-Ed: Findings • Limited ability to compare planned and actual SNAP-Ed funded activities • Data collection could be strengthened by aligning metrics used in State Plans, Annual Reports, and EARS • Use of multi-level interventions listed in the SNAP-Ed Toolkit doubled between FY 2014 and 2016 • SNAP-Ed activities were widely delivered where people learn, live, and work

13. State Nutrition Action Councils (SNAC) • Vision for Action • Guiding Principles • Goals and Objectives • Committed staff and resources • Representatives with authority to make decisions Helping Californians reach their fullest potential across the lifespan through improved nutrition and quality of life. California More information: Ana.Bolanos@dss.ca.gov

14. California: SNAC Farmers Market Initiative 2018 Goals: • Promote Farmers Markets as a great place to shop in 4 counties • Support the health of CalFresh shoppers • Increase buying power of CalFresh shoppers • Support local farmers and economy Draws on collective strengths of partners to produce measurable results: • Increased awareness of markets and benefit use • Economic boost to local agriculture • Access and customer service at every stage of life

15. Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Program (FINI) • Supports projects to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables among low-income consumers participating in SNAP by providing incentives at the point of purchase • 2018 Farm Bill provisions: • Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GUSNIP) • formalizes the Produce Prescription Program • establishes Nutrition Incentive Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation, and Information Centers • New Report released in May 2019: The Evaluation of Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives (FINI) Interim Report

16. Child Nutrition Programs Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements Effective, February 11, 2019, final rule codifies three flexibilities: • offer optional flavored, low-fat (1 percent fat) milk • include half whole grain-rich and half enriched in weekly menus • extend the timeline for meeting Sodium Targets Goals: • acknowledge menu planning challenges experienced by some schools • give schools more control over food service decisions • offer wholesome and appealing meals that reflect local preferences

17. School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study (SNMCS) • nationally representative, comprehensive assessments of the school meal programs • first evaluation of the programs since nutrition standards were updated beginning in School Year (SY) 2012-2013 • study conducted during School Year (SY) 2014-2015 • first national study to simultaneously examine the nutritional quality and cost Child Nutrition Programs: Research

18. SNMCS Merges Two Research Efforts • School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Studies (SNDA) • School Lunch and Breakfast Cost Studies (SLBCS) • SNDA-I: SY 1991-1992 • SNDA-II: SY 1998-1999 • SNDA-III: SY 2004-2005 • SNDA-IV: SY 2009-2010 • SLBCS-I: SY 1992-1993 • SLBCS-II: SY 2005-2006 School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study (SNMCS)-I (SY 2014-2015) SNMCS-II (SY 2019-2020)

19. Research Questions • What percentage of daily and weekly lunch menus met the nutrition standards in SY 2014–2015? • What challenges were faced in implementing the updated standards in SY 2014–2015? • How did the nutritional quality of school lunches change since the updated standards were implemented?

20. SNMCS: Key Findings • The vast majority of lunch menus met meal pattern quantity requirements • over 90 percent of daily lunch menus met the daily quantity requirements for fruits, meat/meat alternates, and milk • about 80 percent met the daily quantity requirements for vegetables and grains. • most menus did not meet the whole grain-rich requirement • The cost to produce school meals significantly increased for the average School Food Authority (SFA) • in SY 2014-2015, the mean reported cost to produce a reimbursable lunch was $3.81 • in SY 2005-2006, the average inflation-adjusted cost was $3.03

21. SNMCS: Key Findings • The nutritional quality of school lunch meals increased: • offered more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains • lower sodium, total calories, and calories from added sugar or saturated fat • HEI Scores increased from 58% in SY 2009-2010 to 82% in SY 2014-2015 • Students were more likely to consume milk, fruit, and vegetables than students who ate lunches from home or other places: • consumed significantly less sodium and saturated fat, fewer overall calories, and fewer empty calories at lunch • food waste was higher for milk, fruit, & vegetables and lower for desserts & entrees

22. Child Nutrition Programs: Team Nutrition Training Resources Updated Nibbles for Health: Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young Children Feeding Infants in the Child and Adult Care Food Program Guide (CACFP) Breastfed Babies Welcome Here!

23. CACFP Training Materials Meal Pattern Training Worksheets Meal Pattern Posters Webinar Series

24. Successful Approaches to Reduce Sodium in School Meals • Key Objectives: • Examine the market availability of foods that meet the current and future sodium standards (i.e., sodium targets) for school meal programs • Identify best practices in schools that are successfully meeting sodium targets that could inform technical assistance to School Food Authorities developing lower sodium options • Goals: • Focus on the resources and approaches necessary to achieve Target 2 • Supports current flexibilities rule

25. Supplemental Food Programs for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

26. WIC Infant Nutrition and Feeding Guide Infant Nutrition and Feeding:  A Guide for Use in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children • Offers research-informed feeding practices for infants from birth to 1 year • Based largely on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Food and Drug Administration • Updated to reflect current research and guidelines about infant health, nutrition, and feeding • Supports local agency staff in preparing education classes, referral programs, and educational materials wicworks.fns.usda.gov

27. Learn Together. Grow Together

28. WIC Report: National and State-Level Estimates of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Eligibles and Program Reach in 2016 • Released in February 2019, report provides national and State estimates of the number of people eligible for WIC benefits and the percent of the eligible population participating in 2016 • Provides the 2016 “coverage rate” or the percentage of the eligible population that receives WIC benefits • Estimates provided by region, U.S. territory, and race and ethnicity

29. Coverage Rate by State

30. WIC Nutrition Education Study Phase 1 – May 2016 Phase 2 – September 2018 Assess feasibility of examining impact of nutrition education Findings indicate that: exposure response design demonstrated significant challenges regardless of staff experience or type of nutrition education no difference in outcomes surveyed participants preferred: participant-centered approach Individualized, positive experience • Description of how nutrition education is delivered • Findings indicate that available staff are: • well educated • highly trained • committed to the program • tailoring nutrition education • coordinating with other local agencies through referrals

31. WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study (Feeding My Baby) • Feeding My Baby is a multi-year, longitudinal study on the feeding practices of infants and toddlers from birth to six years of age • Study examines whether the updated WIC food packages (instituted in 2009) have influenced feeding practices • Assesses the circumstances and influences that shape caregivers’ feeding decisions for their children • Describes associations between these decisions and health and nutrition outcomes • Reports released to date: Intention to Breastfeed Report (2015), First Year Report (2017), and Second Year Report (2018)

32. WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study (ITFPS-2): Third Year Report Highlights • Study indicates that children are consuming a varied diet at 36-months old • Healthy Eating Index scores show there is need for improvement • Most study children are in the normal/healthy range of BMI-for-age percentiles • About a third of the children in the study are overweight or obese - in line with overall population rates

33. Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI)for Sodium and Potassium • National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) • Influenced by recommendations from the Guiding Principles for Developing Dietary Reference Intakes Based on Chronic Disease, this DRI update established a new reference value - Chronic Disease Risk Reduction Intakes (CDRRs) • Potassium - adequacy values were reduced for all age groups except infants less than 1 year; insufficient evidence available to set a CDRR • Sodium – adequacy values are similar to previous values; sufficient data to determine CDRR; insufficient evidence available for toxicity

34. Dietary Guidelines for Americans • USDA and HHS offer more opportunities to engage in the process: • Spring 2018 - sought public comments on topics and scientific questions to be examined in the review of evidence • Fall 2018 - requested nominations from the public for the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee • Winter 2019 - Advisory Committee was announced with expanded expertise • Early Spring 2019 - opened a twelve month public comment period to coincide with expert review • Early Spring 2019 - first public meeting held in Washington, DC to begin the review of the scientific evidence • Advisory Committee meeting dates are posted at DietaryGuidelines.gov • USDA and HHSexpect to receive the scientific report from the Advisory Committee in Spring 2020

35. The Pregnancy and Birth to 24 Months Project • American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Supplement • A series of systematic reviews on diet and health for women who are pregnant and for infants and toddlers from birth to 24 months of age • Additional information is available at nesr.usda.gov

36. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE(NIFA)

37. Agriculture and Food Research Initiative • NIFA requests proposals for integrated projects related to diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic disease • Applicants must address at least one of the following: • Develop, implement, and evaluate innovative research, educational, and outreach strategies to improve eating patterns • Investigate, assess, and recommend food and nutrition research and program interventions with the goal to improve and sustain health • Improve food security and nutritional health outcomes for low-income people through evidence based approaches to healthy eating and active living thereby supporting paths to self-sufficiency • NIFA Webinar: AFRI Food Safety, Nutrition & Health Program Areas Webinar, June 11, 2019, 1:30 pm EDT

38. NIFA Requests for Applications • Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program • increase awareness about agriculture and improve the nutritional health of children • bring together stakeholders from the distinct parts of the food system to increase the capacity for food, garden, and nutrition education • part of a broader effort to increase access to school meals for low-income children and address diet quality • Community Food Project • increaseself-reliance by supporting the food needs of the communities • promote comprehensive responses to local food access, farm, and nutrition issues • meet specific state or local food or agricultural needs related to equipment, long-term planning, or creation of innovative marketing activities

39. ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE(ERS)

40. Economic Research Service The Economic Impacts of Breastfeeding: A Focus on USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) – 2019 The Food Assistance Landscape: FY 2018 Annual Report – 2019

41. Economic Research Service America’s Eating Habits: Food Away From Home – 2018 The Association Between Restaurant Menu Label Use and Caloric Intake

42. Thank You