Parke Wilde, Associate Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, discusses food insecurity in the U.S. and the role of the U.S. federal government. See accompanying talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTIASI1XnGk&index=9&list=PLhGq7NS5QKvWznjCKM_gI0F0yAJZJLR_9

1. Nutrition is our Agenda
nutrition.tufts.edu
The Scope of Food Insecurity in the U.S.:
A Review Federal Nutrition Programs
Northeastern University, January 24, 2017
Parke Wilde, Friedman School, Tufts University

2. Nutrition is our Agenda
nutrition.tufts.edu
Outline
1. What are “hunger” and “food insecurity”?
2. What federal programs address hunger?
3. Can federal programs simultaneously
promote food security and dietary quality?
4. Where do things stand today?

3. Source: New Deal Network, from WPA (undated, 1930s).

4. Source: The Robert F. Kennedy Performance Project

5. Source: CBS, “Waiting in the Food Line,” 2003.

11. Nutrition is our Agenda
nutrition.tufts.edu
Outline
1. What are “hunger” and “food insecurity”?
2. What federal programs address hunger?
3. Can federal programs simultaneously
promote food security and dietary quality?
4. Where do things stand today?

12. Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP)
a.k.a. Food Stamp Program

13. History
• First FSP: May 16, 1939 – Spring 1943
• Pilot FSP: May 29, 1961 – 1964
• The Food Stamp Act of 1964
• The Food Stamp Act of 1977
• The Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunities Reconciliation Act of 1996
(PRWORA)
• The Farm Bill of 2002 and 2008
• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (Stimulus)
• Farm Bill 2014
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/rules/Legislation/about.htm

14. Benefit Determination
Net income is gross income minus deductions
-- Standard deduction
-- Earned income deduction
-- Housing deduction
-- Other deductions
Benefits B = Max – (0.3 * Net Income)

15. SNAP Benefits as a Function of Income
Household Size = 4

16. Income-to-
poverty ratio SNAP
(a)
Median
Spending-to-
TFP ratio
(b)
Food
insecure
(%)
<1.3 Participant .94 51.6
Nonparticipant .94 27.7
Source: Coleman-Jensen et al., 2011.
(a) Food spending relative to the Thrifty
Food Plan budget and (b) prevalence of
household food insecurity, 2010.

17. Nutrition is our Agenda
nutrition.tufts.edu
Outline
1. What are “hunger” and “food insecurity”?
2. What federal programs address hunger?
3. Can federal programs simultaneously
promote food security and dietary quality?
4. Where do things stand today?

18. Source: Conrad, Rehm, Wilde,
Mozaffarian. AJPH. 2017.
Hazard Ratio for
Cardiometabolic Disease
Mortality, by SNAP
Participation Status

19. Healthy Incentives Pilot

20. Abt Associates | pg 20
Impacts on TFV
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
Cup-Equivalents
HIP group Non-HIP group
} Impact = 0.24*** cup-equivalents per day;
26% difference
1.15
cup-equivalents
per day
0.91
cup-equivalents
per day
*p<0.10; **p<0.05; ***p<0.01

21. Source: USDA (2016).

22. Nutrition is our Agenda
nutrition.tufts.edu
Outline
1. What are “hunger” and “food insecurity”?
2. What federal programs address hunger?
3. Can federal programs simultaneously
promote food security and dietary quality?
4. Where do things stand today?

24. http://ridge.nutrition.tufts.edu/
Concept paper submissions: March 13, 2017