Death risk may be higher for participants of U.S. food assistance program

A new study finds that subjects who are a part of the federal food assistance program SNAP may be at a much higher risk of death than nonparticipants.

Five-minute chats in the waiting room may prompt families to eat more fruits, vegetables

Low-income families were more likely to use their federal food assistance on nutritious food after learning that their dollars can be doubled for more fruits and vegetables, a new study finds.

US schools make progress by limiting access to unhealthy foods

Most students in grades kindergarten through 12 have access to foods and beverages during the school day outside the federal school meal programs, which are called competitive foods.

Special report: "Trans Fat, Regulation, Legislation and Human Health"

Clinical Therapeutics features a special report in its March issue focusing on the science and policy leading up to the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) preliminary steps toward restricting industrially produced trans fatty acids, or trans fat, at the federal level.

Healthy Eating Costs Much More In America

If you want to follow a healthy diet in the USA it will cost you more money, researchers revealed in the journal Health Affairs. According to their analysis, those wishing to follow the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 – which means consuming more potassium, vitamin, calcium and dietary fiber – most will have more expensive grocery bills…

Food Pyramid Gives Way To Food Plate, USA

For the last two decades the federal government has used the Food Pyramid as the basis for good nutritional advice, which never told people how much of which types of foods they should eat. Many also criticized it for not taking into account the impact on insulin of some high carbohydrate foods…

U.S. Call For Improved Nutrition And Physical Activity Supported By Gerontological Society of America

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) – the nation’s largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging – commends the federal government’s recent release of the “2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans” and particularly applauds its inclusion of specific advice for older adults. Because more than one-third of children and more than two-thirds of adults in the U.S…

USDA Releases Proposed Rule To Improve National School Lunch And Breakfast Programs

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a proposed rule outlining the Department’s plan for updating the federal nutrition standards for meals served under the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. The School Nutrition Association (SNA) welcomed the proposal and looks forward to fully reviewing the details and working with USDA to further improve school meals…

Funding Bill Passed; Food Safety Measure Sent To President; 9/11 Worker Legislation Still Held Up

Although Congress gave approval to a short-term funding measure for the federal government, the bill doesn’t contain money to pay for enforcement of new health law regulations. Meanwhile, work continued on other pending proposals…