Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (FNCS) Mission Area
The Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services mission area works to harness the Nation's agricultural abundance to end hunger and improve nutrition and health in the United States. It operates through two agencies, the Food and Nutrition Service, which administers the Federal domestic nutrition assistance programs, and the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, which links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers through science-based dietary guidance, nutrition policy coordination, and nutrition education and promotion.

• Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) works to increase food security and reduce hunger by providing children and low-income people with access to food, a healthy diet, and nutrition education in a manner that supports U.S. agriculture and inspires public confidence in the Nation's domestic nutrition assistance programs. FNS nutrition assistance programs represent over nearly half of USDA's budget. These programs operate through partnerships with State and local organizations. The largest FNS programs are the Food Stamp Program, the Child Nutrition Programs, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. FNS works closely with other USDA agencies, such as the Agricultural Marketing Service and the Farm Service Agency, to provide commodities to low-income Americans. The agency also works with the Agricultural Research Service to monitor the eating habits of program participants.

  Authorizing Legislation: FNS programs are operated pursuant to a number of statutory authorities, including the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act; the Child Nutrition Act of 1966; the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973; the Food Stamp Act of 1977; and the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983.

  Home Page Address: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns

• Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) develops and promotes science-based dietary guidance and economic information for consumers and professionals in health, education, industry, and media. Composed of nutritionists, economists, dietitians, and nutrition educators, CNPP develops integrated nutrition research, education, and promotion programs, and is a recognized authority for providing science-based dietary guidance for the American public and for policy development.

  Authorizing Legislation: The mission and goal of the Center are implicitly authorized by the Organic Act of 1863, and the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990. CNPP was established in 1994 pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding between FNCS and the Research, Education, and Economics mission areas.

November 2000