In August, 1969, a new federal food and nutrition agency was established to assistant and combat the nutritional challenges facing the United States. On July 23, 2009, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan recognized the milestone of the Food and Nutrition Service turning 40 and highlighted some of the services this agency provides. To read the USDA news release on the anniversary click here.The FNS is charged with administering the country’s federal, domestic food nutrition assistance and support programs. Today the agency operates 15 assistance programs that serve 1 in every 5 Americans. Two of the more well known programs administered by the agency actually pre-date the FNS.
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) was created in 1930s and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP—previously known as the Food Stamp Program) has been in existence in some form since 1961. According to the USDA, since 1969 the school lunch program has served more than 169 billion meals and the food stamp program has delivered $554 billion in benefits. For more information on the FNS and other assistance programs click here.
Posted: 07/24/09
