1. Poll Shows Significant Numbers of Americans Cutting Back on Food and Medicine
(CNNMoney.com, March 20, 2008)

Thirty percent of respondents to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll said they were cutting back on their food and medicine spending, and 50 percent said they were cutting back on fuel/electricity use in their homes. What money consumers are spending on food and drugs is coming from cutbacks in their discretionary budgets. According to Wachovia economist Adam York, “[t]here are some consumers that are having some real trouble in this environment.” Another recent report, from the Commerce Department, indicated that in February, consumers spent 0.2 percent less on food and beverages than the month before, while grocery store sales decreased 0.3 percent.

2. Poor Children Come Up Short in President’s Budget
(The Madison Times, March 13, 2008)

Marion Wright Edelman of the Children’s Defense Fund criticizes eliminating funding for child nutrition programs in this commentary on President Bush’s FY 2009 budget. Edelmen mentions that this isn’t the first time the President has proposed cuts to food stamps, WIC and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, as the Presidential budgets have come up short on the programs for the last three to four years. Edelman cites FRAC research showing that food stamp cuts will affect 300,000 low-income families with children. She also warns that WIC won’t have enough funding to meet the program’s needs, and criticizes proposed elimination of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, affecting close to 500,000 children, low-income mothers, and seniors. More children live in poverty now, Edelman states, than in 2000 – 1.2 million more, for a total of 12.8 million children. Edelman also draws attention to significant SCHIP and Head Start budget cuts, as well as lowered education grants.

3. Life Expectancy Disparity Mirrors Income Disparity
(The New York Times, March 23, 2008)

The rich are living longer than the poor, according to new research from the Department of Health and Human Services. While life expectancy for Americans overall has increased, the affluent population has “experienced greater gains,” creating a “widening gap.” The government has been trying to reduce this gap, most notably in the federal Healthy People 2010 project goal of eliminating “health disparities among different segments of the population.” However, the report shows that, at birth and every age level, “widening socioeconomic inequalities in life expectancy” have occurred. Congressional Budget Office director Peter R. Orszag commented “We have heard a lot about growing income inequality. There has been much less attention paid to growing inequality in life expectancy, which is really quite dramatic.” The study found that, in the last twenty years, the most affluent group of people could expect to live 2.8 years longer than the most deprived population (75.8 versus 73 years in 1980-82), and 4.5 years longer in 1998-2000 (79.2 versus 74.7 years). The extremes in 2000, according to report author Dr. Gopal K. Singh, showed a “difference between poor black men and affluent white women [to be] more than 14 years (66.9 years versus 81.1 years).” This parallel between life expectancy and income has appeared in other research as well. According to a Harvard School of Public Health study by Nancy Krieger, “from 1966 to 1980, socioeconomic disparities declined in tandem with a decline in mortality rates. And Harvard Medical School research found “virtually all gains in life expectancy occurred among highly educated groups” participating in the study.

4. Food Stamp Numbers Rise in Spite of Access Barriers
(The Westerly Sun, March 16, 2008)

A “daunting” 17-page application form and requiring applicants to meet with caseworkers in person can prevent people from applying for food stamps, yet Rhode Island state statistics show the program has more recipients now than in times past. In February 2007, 85,000 of the state’s one million residents received food stamps, due to the tough economy affected by layoffs and home foreclosures. Volunteers at shelters and food banks across the state help residents through the application and pre-screening tasks. The help is desperately needed, especially at one Community Action Center which has a vacant Department of Human Services position. State Sen. Dennis Algiere said he was “aware” of the vacancy and will “work on it.”

5. With Staple Food Prices Rising, Families are Hit Particularly Hard
(Tri-Valley Herald, March 18, 2008)

“Shopping smarter” is not an option for many families finding the cost of food staples - milk, bread and eggs - increasingly unaffordable. According to USDA’s economic research service, food prices rose four percent in 2007, the biggest increase in prices since 1990. Shoppers in the San Francisco Bay area struggle to purchase $4 gallons of milk, $4 loaves of bread, and $3.50 a dozen eggs. In 2008, prices are expected to rise another four percent. With staple food prices this high, low-income households in particular suffer, as they’re unable to substitute for these basics. Food bank donations are down, as retailers sell dented cans and close-to-expiring items to dollar stores for additional profit. Food stamp recipients have “less to eat,” said Jessica Barlow of the California Association of Food Banks. Gas and transportation costs are also up, making it difficult and just as unaffordable for families to drive and travel for food bargains. Many do so anyway, frequenting grocery store outlets for the best buys. “Senior citizens tell me if it wasn’t for Grocery Outlet, they wouldn’t survive,” said outlet owner Len Wesson.

6. High State Employee Turnover Hampers Food Stamp Program
(Austin American Statesman, March 23, 2008)

Of the approximately 1000 Health and Human Services Commission caseworkers hired in Texas since September 2006 to manage food stamp and Medicaid applications, close to 75 percent have since resigned. The state is experiencing difficulties in hiring replacement staff, who start their jobs with excitement but are soon struggling under the intense workloads of increased applications resulting from staff shortages. “[T]here’s a very vicious cycle,” according to Mike Gross, vice president of the Texas State Employees Union. “New hires barely replace the people who are leaving.” The bulk of the problem stems from state budget cuts in 2003 and a failed move to privatization of services that year. The state is under orders by USDA to improve their performance, which the state will do by increasing entry-level salaries, raising salaries for current workers, and promoting caseworkers quicker.

7. More Food Stamps Going Out, Less Food Coming In
(Columbus Dispatch, March 22, 2008)

Ohio is experiencing its highest number or residents receiving food stamps – one in 10 – and worker caseloads have doubled according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family. While 1.1 million residents participate in the program, another half million Ohioans are eligible for food stamps but aren’t enrolled. Experts blame the record number of recipients on rising grocery and fuel costs, the economy, and loss of manufacturing jobs. “People who were barely getting by, are not getting by,” said Athens County Department of Job and Family Services director Jack Frech. Some food pantries, depleted of their supplies, have had to close, delivering a “double whammy” for people relying on them to extend their food stamps to the end of the month. While more people are receiving food stamps, rising food prices mean their dollars are buying less. One month of food stamp benefits now buys less then two weeks of groceries.

8. Residents Struggle with Groceries and Gas
(Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 23, 2008)

A recent USA Today/Gallup poll shows Americans are pessimistic about the current economy, with 76 percent of 1,025 respondents saying the U.S. is already in a recession, and 56 percent expecting a full-blown depression to occur. Rochester, New York residents aren’t much more confident, as high food and fuel prices force them to cut back on areas they’ve already decreased spending. Wages in Rochester, while estimated to rise 3.3 percent in 2008, fall short of inflation rates that are increasing faster than they have for 20 years. The working poor at the hardest hit by the rising prices, says Mark Horn with the Eastern Service Workers of America. "Look at recent news reports: The cost of pasta has almost doubled," said Horn. “[O]ur members have to choose between buying gas to get to their jobs and groceries.”

9. USDA Ad Campaign Aims to Raise Food Stamp Receipt by Seniors
(News & Observer, March 18, 2008)

After battling cancer himself and caring for his wife who passed away from the disease, 79 year old Earl Rudd applied for food stamps. “I’ve always been able to stand on my own two feet,” he said, “but I just don’t know how much longer I can do that.” High monthly medical bills and home payments have left Rudd unable to afford sufficient food; he now owes more on his house, after refinancing for assistance in paying his bills, than the original amount he borrowed to buy it. USDA is running a $3 million ad campaign targeted to seniors like Rudd, one of almost 500,000 North Carolina residents eligible for food stamps but not enrolled in the program. Radio spots focusing on an area called “The Triangle” answer commonly asked questions about eligibility (what if I have a car? do I have to have kids?) and aim to dispel food stamp myths. USDA runs the ads in 34 additional high poverty/low enrollment areas across the country. Even with food stamp assistance, seniors still have to cope with rising food prices.

10. Government Program Seeks to Raise Nutrition Awareness in Low-Income Population
(North Platte Telegraph, March 15, 2008)

Nebraska is experiencing success helping low-income families and children increase their nutrition knowledge through the Food Stamp Nutrition Education and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Programs (EFNEP). The programs, designed by the Cooperative Extension System under the umbrella title “Nutrition Education Program” (NEP), give families the skills necessary to make the most of their limited food budgets, which are often augmented by the Food Stamp Program. “Most Americans do not understand national nutritional policies,” said NEP director and UNL Extension nutrition specialist Wanda Koszeweski. From 2006-2007, the project has educated 3,105 families in 42 Nebraska counties, in addition to 1,022 senior citizens. NEP’s greatest success has been in reaching 11,688 youth, a population that receives more food stamp benefits than any other group. Research has shown that, in 2006, 94 percent of 2,078 youth in the Nebraska EFNEP program improved the variety of foods they consumed, while 86 percent of 1,424 youth increased their nutrition knowledge.

11. School Menus Healthier But More Expensive
(Cullman Times, March 17, 2008)

As food prices soar, schools are grappling with the higher costs and new nutritional guidelines that call for more fruits and vegetables. In Alabama, Anita Overture, Cullman City Schools Support Services coordinator, notes “[a] lot of schools are looking at increasing food prices…[i]n order to continue to have healthier foods we’re going to have to pay more money.” According to Overture, the rising costs for dairy products caused city schools to increase the price of a single serving of milk by 20 percent from $0.25 to $0.30.

12. School Cafeterias Experience Success Working with Healthy Ingredients
(The Boston Globe, March 16, 2008)

Four Boston area schools improving the nutritional value of their menus while providing appealing food to students are profiled in this article.

Weston High School features premium brand juices, vending machines selling bottled water. The lunch menu changes every day, rotating among choices such as quiche, Asian rice bowls, Normandy vegetables, and “Cosmic Potatoes” (baked potatoes cut into star and moon shapes).

East Boston High School offers universal lunch, and according to the school’s cafeteria manager, Jennie Hall, students don’t complain about the food.” Fresh salads share the lunch menu with bagel pizzas, turkey nuggets, brown rice, and Smuckers Uncrustable peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Foxborough High School’s head cook, Nancy Siracusa, prides herself on the school’s kitchen, which gives students a choice of a variety of meals. “The more choices they have, the more lunches we sell,” she notes.

Stoneham High School’s cafeteria is run by Chartwells School Dining Services, which serves 2.5 million schoolchildren across the country every day. Chartwells provides 794 Stoneham students with meals daily. Northeast regional dietician for the $8 billion company, Gail Olivera, said “kids’ tastes are more sophisticated” these days. Stoneham students take advantage of a full salad bar, deli counter, Au Bon Pain soup, 100 percent juices slushes, and whole-grain crust pizza, in an atmosphere more similar to a food court than an institutional lunchroom. At $2.75 per lunch, Olivera feels the Stoneham offering is “still the best [value] around.”

13. Hard Times Means High WIC Numbers
(Redding Record-Searchlight, March 15, 2008)

New WIC enrollments have skyrocketed since 2006 in California’s Shasta County, as families continue to struggle with soaring food and gas prices and cope with construction job layoffs and the “mortgage crisis.” During the last quarter of 2007, WIC enrollment jumped 64 percent as compared to the final quarter of 2006; 964 mothers registered in 2007’s final months while 589 registered during the same period in 2006. Shasta County’s maternal and child health manager Kathey Kakiuchi commented on the new population registering for benefits: “[w]e’re…seeing a lot of families that we typically would not have seen in the past. Working folks who, before the prices went up, were able to make ends meet.” Statewide, 1.4 women and children received WIC assistance in February, increasing by 75,000 to 80,000 over the past year. Rhonda Vollmer is one WIC recipient who finds the program “wonderful.” A full-time Dairy Queen manager, Vollmer makes $8.25 an hour and was struggling to buy formula at $15 a can.

14. Prison Food Used for Punishment May Be Termed Illegal
(Associated Press, March 23, 2008)

Nutriloaf, a prison staple combining bread, meat, vegetables, powdered milk and other ingredients, has long been used as to modify the behavior of recalcitrant prisoners. Now, in a class action lawsuit, Vermont prisoners may convince prison officials that the food is a cruel punishment, and should be illegal to use instead of a formal disciplinary process. There’s been past precedence for the inmates’ lawyer to draw on – the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1978 that a similar concoction used in Arkansas, termed “grue,” would be intolerable if used against a prisoner for weeks or months. And in 1988, a federal judge ruled nutraloaf used by the Michigan Department of Corrections was punishment. While nutraloaf is formulated to provide a complete range of nutrients, prisoners complain that it’s inedible. Prison Project’s public policy coordinator Jody Kent said “Our position is that [nutriloaf] shouldn’t be used unless a violation has to do with food. It shouldn’t be used as punishment.” According to the Vermont Prisoner’s Rights attorney Seth Lipschutz, [if] it’s punishment, you’ve got to follow the rules. Even in prison you get a little bit of due process.”

Subscribe to FRAC's News Digest | News Digest Archives | www.frac.org