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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Eric Munoz, MA, Cynthia Reeves Tuttle, PhD, MPH, and Todd Post, MFA. Bread for the World Institute, 50 F Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20001, 202-639-9400, emunoz@bread.org

In 2007, Congress will reauthorize federal farm programs as well as nutrition programs through omnibus farm bill legislation. Since 1973 The Food Stamp Program (FSP), the largest nutrition program in the United States, has been included as part of this reauthorization process. Linked as it is to farm policy, the FSP was intended to “strengthen the agricultural economy” while also “safeguard[ing] the health and well-being of the Nation's population by raising levels of nutrition among low-income households.” . The FSP has consistently been shown to increase food expenditures. Thus, in a broad sense, the FSP has successfully increased domestic demand for agricultural products. Beyond increasing caloric intake, however, there is no evidence that the FSP has contributed to a more nutritious diet among low-income households (one meeting current recommended dietary allowances). Despite a policy objective geared toward nutrition, the current structure of the food stamp program is ill-equipped to improve the quality of low-income households' dietary intake. This raises the question of whether the current program can be changed to improve nutrition outcomes for food stamp recipients. Beginning with an overview of the health and diet related problems faced by low-incomes households, this presentation will examine federal nutrition education efforts aimed at improving the nutrition and health of food stamp recipients. Evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of nutrition education will be analyzed. This evidence will be contextualized within emerging proposals aimed at improving the food stamp program. These proposals will be analyzed and recommendations for reform to the food stamp program will be presented.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Articulate the current health and nutrition problems faced by low-income households, especially those households participating in the food stamp program;
• Define the role of nutrition education in helping to address these health and nutrition related problems;
• Evaluate various proposals to improve the food stamp program in a manner consistent with improved nutritional outcomes.

Keywords: Food and Nutrition, Public Policy

Related Web page: www.bread.org/learn/hunger-reports/hunger-report-2006-download.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation