The weekly Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) News Digest highlights what's new on hunger, nutrition and poverty issues at FRAC, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, around the network of national, state and local anti-poverty and anti-hunger organizations, and in the media. The Digest will alert you to trends, reports, news items and resources and, when available, link you directly to them.
1. USDA Pilot Study Report: Direct verification with Medicaid feasible and effective
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service Office of Analysis, Nutrition and Evaluation released the First Year Report on its Direct Verification Pilot Study, which looked at ways to simplify the process of verifying a family’s income for the purposes of receiving school meals. Direct verification uses information collected by means-tested programs to verify eligibility for free and reduced-price meals without contacting applicants. The report evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of using Medicaid data in 4 states to directly verify family income, and found this method of verification was both technically feasible and effective. School districts in the participating states found that it was easy to implement and plan to continue its use. For more information, view the summary of the report or download the full report here.
2. Deadline for Hunger Champions and Golden Grocers nominations extended to July 31
Nominations continue to be accepted for the 2007 Hunger Champions Program and Golden Grocer Hunger Champions Program. The Food Stamp Outreach Coalition established the Hunger Champions Program to honor local offices that provide exemplary service in helping eligible clients obtain food stamps. The Golden Grocer Hunger Champions Program recognizes the role retailers play in the Food Stamp Program, including successful activities that improve service to food stamp recipients and low-income customers. Nominations for both awards must be submitted by July 31.
2007 Hunger Champions Announcement | Nomination Form
2007 Golden Grocer Announcement | Nomination Form
3. USDA awards $30 million to states for exceptional administration of Food Stamp Program
(USDA, June 29, 2007)
USDA recently announced that $30 million will be awarded to states that demonstrated exceptional administration of the Food Stamp Program in Fiscal Year 2006. Nebraska and Vermont had a 0.00 negative error rate, which means both states served every eligible individual in the quality control sample who applied for benefits. Vermont was also noted, along with Rhode Island, for improving their error rates the most. Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Minnesota were commended by USDA for their low negative error rates while South Dakota, Missouri, Washington, Mississippi, North Carolina, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands were honored for having the best food stamp payment accuracy rates.
4. UN: World growth, ethanol production will increase food prices
(The Guardian, July 5, 2007)
The price of food will increase in the next 10 years, according to the United Nation’s annual assessment of farming trends. This analysis attributes a movement to growing crops for fuel-related reasons, such as corn for ethanol production, as a source of rising prices. The UN report also says that continued world growth will account for a near 30 percent increase in consumption of beef and a 50 percent increase in consumption of pig meat by 2016. Poultry consumption is also expected to increase 25 percent by 2016, and 70 percent more skimmed milk powder and sugar will be consumed by the same year. According to the report, the higher food prices not only threaten the economy of "food-importing countries, but also the urban poor."
5. Editorial aims for Farm Bill improvements
(The Des Moines Register, July 1, 2007)
An Iowa editorial urges Congress to improve the Farm Bill to ensure that America, the richest nation in the world, provides nutritious food for its hungry. The editorial says the Farm Bill is a great opportunity for Congress to show that they can make government work better for the nation’s residents with "more money to feed the hungry."
6. Stress increases abdominal fat, study finds
(Los Angeles Times, July 2, 2007)
Studies of mice show that repeated stress combined with a high-fat, high-sugar diet releases a hormone that causes increased abdominal fat. Stressed mice on a high-fat, high-sugar diet gained twice as much belly fat than non-stressed mice in the experiment's first two weeks, according to researchers from Georgetown University. Within three months, the stressed mice became grossly obese. Scientists believe this applies to humans and monkeys, who share similar hormones to rats. "It makes sense that, in a stressed environment, an animal would want to make and store fat for a future 'fight-or-flight' response," said neuroscientist Adrian J. Dunn.
7. Poll: Majority of Americans say income gap too wide
(The Associated Press, July 5, 2007)
According to a recent national poll, about seven in 10 people said discrepancies between income levels are too large, and 80 percent of respondents said the gap between the middle-class and rich has worsened in the past 25 years. Two-thirds of respondents believe the government should do more to provide jobs for everyone who seeks employment. The poll, conducted by the University of Connecticut, involved telephone interviews with 500 adults across the nation.
8. Louisiana residents face hunger nearly two years after Katrina
(The Times-Picayune, June 16, 2007)
More than 22 months later, tens of thousands of Louisiana residents still need help providing food for themselves and their families as they continue to deal with the effects of Hurricane Katrina. State and food bank officials say recent reductions in federal funding to nutrition programs have increased demand in area food banks. Federal funding has been reduced due to population losses and the end of one-time hurricane emergency programs. Some Louisiana residents are also having difficulty getting food stamps. To qualify for food stamps, residents of the state cannot have more than $3,000 in assets but charities report that some families are denied from the Food Stamp Program because they have higher balances due to insurance proceeds or grants to rebuild their homes destroyed by Katrina.
9. Closings may leave Detroit with no major supermarket
(The Detroit News, July 5, 2007)
Two grocery stores in Detroit are set to close, which could leave the city without a single national chain supermarket if neither location is purchased. Analysts say no other major American city lacks a supermarket chain. The closures present problems for residents without access to reliable transportation. While many residents rely on convenience stores for staples, but Pat Hollins, an activist with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, said expired produce and meat is a concern at many Detroit convenience stores.
10. More than 1 million in Illinois face hunger
(Daily Southtown, July 2, 2007)
More than a million Illinois residents are hungry, according to Katherine R. Maehr, executive director of the Greater Chicago Food Depository and president of the Illinois Food Bank Association. Maehr believes the "Feeding America's Families Act" introduced by U.S. Reps. James McGovern (D-Mass.) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) is an important step forward in combating hunger because it would increase funding for federal nutrition programs over the next five years. According to Maehr, hunger is one of the nation’s most pressing and solvable issues.
11. Survey shows food insecurity in Wisconsin
(The Capital Times, June 30, 2007)
A recent survey found that about 85 percent who visited a Wisconsin food pantry last October were food insecure. More than half of these families faced food deprivation on three or more days during the previous month, according to the survey. Dan Geisler, a Wisconsin resident, wrote in a letter to the editor that such hunger is inexcusable. He believes that Congress should recognize that adequate nutrition for all, especially children, is a high priority. Geisler encourages the nation's leaders to provide more adequate funding and improve enrollment requirements of the Food Stamp Program.
12. New York City implements ban on trans fat
(The Washington Post, July 1, 2007)
On July 1, the first phase of New York City's ban on trans fat went into effect. The first phase bans trans fat in oils, shortening and margarines used for frying and spreading while the second phase, to be implemented in July 2008, prevents trans fats from being used in baked goods or prepared foods, or oils used to deep-fry cake batter or dough. Other cities and counties, such as Philadelphia, the Boston suburb of Brookline and Maryland's Montgomery County, have measures in place to prohibit trans fats by 2008. California and Chicago are also considering a trans fat ban.
13. More Michigan children eating free summer meals
(The Detroit News, July 2, 2007)
About 1.9 million free summer meals were provided to children in Michigan's low-income households in 2006. Program officials say 15 percent of eligible children in the state used the program last year, which is up from 9 percent in 2005. Jerry Sedick, associate director for family and community services for the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency, expects the program to expand. "We are seeing that there is an interest growing, partly because I think more organizations are finding out about the program," he said.
14. Iowa residents to vote on sales tax increase
(The Des Moines Register, July 4, 2007)
On July 10, Iowa voters will decide whether to increase the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent. Diana Krebs, a Des Moines resident, worries that an increase will burden her and many others in the state. "I live on a very limited income," she said. "It's the middle class and the lower class that's going to be feeling [an increase] the most." Sales taxes impact low-income people more than other groups because a larger portion of their income goes toward taxable goods and services, according to tax experts.
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