FSHN 403 FINAL
Be familiar with what constitutes fraud and abuse of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and how the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) works with State law enforcement to conduct sting operations to combat SNAP fraud
- when SNAP benefits are exchanged for cash. Also called "trafficking" - obviously illegal Other types of SNAP fraud: When someone lies on their application to receive benefits or to receive more benefits than they are actually qualified for When a retailer has been disqualified from the program for past abuse and lies on the application to get in the program again According to USDA, SNAP trafficking has decreased dramatically due to increased oversight and improved program management by the agency 1993: trafficking rate was 4 cents per dollar (4%) 2006-08: trafficking rate decreased to 1 cent per dollar (1%) In 2012, ~50% of resources of the USDA's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) was dedicated to fighting fraud Types of USDA oversight: SNAP purchase data used to identify suspicious transaction patters Undercover investigations Collaboration with other investigative agencies SNAP electronic benefits transfer (EBT) Has given USDA new tools to identify, track and take action against trafficking Provides an electronic audit trail that can be used to identify suspicious activity Anti-Fraud Locator using EBT Retailer Transactions ("ALERT" system) monitors electronic transaction activity to identify suspicious stores for investigation FNS has a team of over 100 analysts and investigators across the US dedicated to SNAP retailer compliance This team analyzed retailer data, conducts undercover investigations and fines or disqualifies violating retailers FNS also works with State law enforcement to provide them with SNAP benefits that are used in sting operations, fighting trafficking at the local level In 2012, over 15,000 stores were reviewed and nearly 4,500 undercover investigations were conducted ~1,400 stores were permanently disqualified for trafficking and ~700 stores were sanctioned for violations such as the sale of ineligible items USDA's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) also conducts criminal investigations. In 2012, OIG investigations resulted in 342 convictions, including several multi-year prison sentences and ~$58 million recovered. Recent allegations against a religious sect in Utah also involves SNAP fraud Sect leaders are accused of taking SNAP benefits from intended beneficiaries and using them to operate their group Members of the sect receive ~$8 million dollars in SNAP benefits annually Sect leaders allegedly used SNAP benefits to buy groceries that were turned over to a communal storehouse for redistribution - including to members not eligible for SNAP Prosecutors allege that sect leaders created two small convenience stores as fronts for EBT fraud. SNAP beneficiaries swiped their cards at these stores, but did not receive goods in return. The money was then used for sect expenses, including purchase of vehicles According to the indictment - these two small stores made more sales that stores such as Walmart or Costco Although this group is very anti-government, they were willing to receive support from FNS Leaders of the sect allegedly called their SNAP fraud "bleeding the beast" (the "beast" being the federal government) The new charges against sect leaders of conspiracy to commit fraud and of money laundering are likely to "...pretty much cut the head off the snake", according to the half-brother of the sect leader (68)
Be familiar with what foods (or items) are eligible or ineligible for purchase under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Breads and cereals Fruits and vegetables Meats, fish and poultry; and Dairy products Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat
Be familiar with the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act of 1946
Established permanent School Lunch Program Provides States with general and special cash assistance and donations of foods acquired by the Department to be used to assist schools in serving nutritious lunches to children each school day Participating schools shall serve lunches that are nutritionally adequate, and shall to the extent practicable, ensure that participating children gain a full understanding of the relationship between proper eating and good health (delivery of both meals AND education about good nutrition)
Be familiar with the FDA's Guidance for Industry regarding voluntary labeling of foods derived from genetically modified organisms: http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/ucm059098.htm
It includes context including if it's modified or derived from biotechnology addresses ingredient from GMO If food is GM significantly from original, must have name & use that name on package label statement must be made on label describing differences/consequences
Be familiar with the declaration of congressional policy regarding national school lunch programs as noted in the US Code (42 USC 1751)
It is declared to be the policy of Congress, as a measure of national security, to safeguard the health and well-being of the nation's children and to encourage the domestic consumption of nutritious agricultural commodities and other food, by assisting the States, through grants-in-aid and other means, in providing an adequate supply of foods and other facilities for the establishment, maintenance, operation, and expansion of nonprofit school lunch programs.
Regarding the leadership of the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), who is the current Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services?
Kevin W. Concannon, Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Service Dr. Janey Thornton she received her Doctorate from Iowa State University in 2007
Who is categorically eligible for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)?
Low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, Infants (Up to one year old) Children (Up to five years old)
Be familiar with "mandatory" and "discretionary" budget categories and what these mean
Mandatory programs: provide services as required by law Crop insurance Nutrition assistance programs Farm commodity and trade programs, etc. Discretionary programs: not required by law WIC program Food safety Research and education Management of national forests, many others.
Be familiar with work requirements for participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including those that apply specifically to Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs). This includes special considerations for ABAWDs who are unable to work for various reasons (physical, mental, pregnancy, care for a child or an incapacitated family member).
Registering for work Not voluntarily quitting a job or reducing hours Taking a job, if offered Take part in an employment and training program to which they are referred by the local office Failure to comply with these requirements can result in disqualification from the program (look ar slides for more info. starts on #41)
What are the main products and services offered by the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service?
Responsible for administering U.S. domestic nutrition assistance programs, addressing hunger in the United States Commodities served as meals, packages used for home meal prep, disaster assistance Food assistance through electronic benefits cards Nutrition-related educational materials Food safety and security efforts
Be able to recognize specific programs offered by the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) National School Lunch Program (NSLP) School Breakfast Program (SBP) Special Milk Program (SMP) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Others
What did Public Law 320, passed by the 74th Congress aim to do?
This law aimed to remove price-depressing surplus foods from the market through purchase by the USDA
Be familiar with the mission statement of the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
To increase food security and reduce hunger by providing children and low-income people access to: Food A healthful diet and Nutrition education In a way that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence No American should have to go hungry
Be familiar with how the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) plans to update the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology
clarify what biotech areas are within authority responsibility of each agency long term strategy
Be familiar with the purpose of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and how it defines "children"; is there a component of WIC that is concerned with preventing health problems associated with abuse of drugs and other harmful substances?
means persons who have had their first birthday, but have not yet attained their fifth birthday a beverage containing alcohol, a controlled substance (as defined by the Controlled Substance Act) or a controlled substance analogue
Be familiar with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) definitions, including what is meant by the term "elderly" within the scope of this law
A person is elderly if he or she is 60 years of age or older
Review concepts regarding fiscal years - be able to identify the time frame for the federal fiscal year, the state fiscal year and the fiscal year for the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
An organization's budget or financial year (may be different than calendar year) Used by management to determine whether an organization has met its goals for the year This information is used to adjust operations for the future Federal Fiscal Year: October 1 - September 30 Allows newly elected officials to participate in the next year's budget process State of Iowa (and most states) and ISU Fiscal Year: July 1 - June 30 FNS School Year: July 1 - June 30
Be familiar with the relative amount budgeted for the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) vs. the amount budgeted for food safety (either USDA alone or combined USDA and FDA)
COMBINED FSIS/FDA budgets for food safety ~$2.7 billion - compared to ~$112 billion for various nutrition assistance programs
Be familiar under what circumstances non-citizens may be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and under what the eligibility is for non-citizens that are in the U.S. temporarily, such as students
Certain non-citizens such as thos admitted for humanitarian reasons and those admitted for permanent residence may also be eligible for SNAP Eligible household members can get SNAP benefits even if there are other members of the household that are not eligible Non-citizens that are in the U.S. temporarily, such as students, are not eligible
What are some of the variables that FDA considers when evaluating the safety of a GMO food
Genetic modification mechanism Toxicant introduction Nutrient changes in amount or form New/novel substance creation Allergenicity Antibiotic Resistance Markers Animal Feeds Labeling
Be familiar with whom the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is intended to serve and with eligibility criteria for the program
Households may have $2,250 in countable resources, such as a bank account, or $3,250 in countable resources if at least one person is age 60 or older, or is disabled Certain resources are not counted: A home and lot The resources of people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) The resources of people who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Most retirement (pension) plans Households have to meet income tests unless all members are receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income, or some other forms of assistance Gross income means a household's total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have been made. Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions Most households must meet both the gross and net income tests, but a household with an elderly person or a person who is receiving certain types of disability payments only has to meet the net income test A 20 percent deduction from earned income A standard deduction of $147 for households sizes of 1 to 3 people and $155 for a household size of 4 A dependent care deduction when needed for work, training, or education Medical expenses for elderly or disabled members that are more than $35 for the month if they are not paid by insurance or someone else Legally owed child support payments Some States allow homeless households a set amount ($143) for shelter costs Maximum allotments for various household sizes, and allowable deductions for the 48 States and the District of Columbia http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/government/FY13_Allot_Deduct.htm Note: Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands have slightly different allotment amounts In general, people must meet work requirements in order to be eligible for SNAP These work requirements include: Registering for work Not voluntarily quitting a job or reducing hours Taking a job, if offered Take part in an employment and training program to which they are referred by the local office Failure to comply with these requirements can result in disqualification from the program Additionally, able bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) are required to work or participate in a work program for at least 20 hours per week in order to receive SNAP benefits for more than 3 months in a 36-month period ABAWDs can only get SNAP for 3 months in 3 years if they do not meet certain special work requirements. This is called the time limit To be eligible beyond the time limit, an ABAWD must work at least 80 hours per month, or comply with a workfare program (do unpaid work through a State-approved program) The time limit does not apply to people who are unable to work due to physical or mental reasons, who are pregnant, care for a child or incapacitated family member or are exempt from the general work requirements
What are the "high priority" health risks under WIC?
Medically-based risks (designated as "high priority") Anemia, underweight Maternal age, history of pregnancy complications, or poor pregnancy outcomes Diet-based risks such as inadequate dietary pattern
Is nutrition education considered a benefit of WIC? Be familiar with how services under WIC should be tailored to the needs of the recipient.
Nutrition education shall be considered a benefit of the program and shall be made available at no cost to the participant Shall be designed to be easily understood by participants Shall bear a practical relationship to participant nutritional needs, household situations, and cultural preferences including information on how to select food for themselves and their families The State agency shall ensure that nutrition education is made available to all participants May be provided through the local agencies directly, or through arrangements made with other agencies Individual participants shall not be denied supplemental foods for failure to attend or participate in nutrition education activities
What participation requirements must be met by a school participating in the National School Lunch Program?
Participating schools shall serve lunches that are nutritionally adequate, and shall to the extent practicable, ensure that participating children gain a full understanding of the relationship between proper eating and good health (delivery of both meals AND education about good nutrition)
Be able to recognize the principle of "substantial equivalence" that the FDA uses when considering the safety of GMO foods
Principle that suggests a novel food (read GM food) should be considered the same as and as safe as a conventional food if it demonstrates the same characteristics and composition as the conventional food Determined by deviation of biochemical profile (protein) from conventional foods Remember that conventional foods can exhibit variation in their biochemical profile
Review lecture slides regarding 1st comprehensive update of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in 2014
Recent revisions (final rule March, 2014 - 1st comprehensive revisions to WIC food packages since 1980 - 34 YEARS!): > 30% increase in the dollar amount for children's fruit and vegetable purchases Expand whole grain options available to participants Provide yogurt as a partial milk substitute for children and women Allow parents of older infants to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables instead of jarred infant food if they choose, and Give states and local WIC agencies more flexibility to meet the nutritional and cultural needs of WIC participants
Be familiar with lecture material regarding the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
Seeks to protect *biological diversity* from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology Emphasizes precautionary principle It will allow countries to ban imports of a living modified organism if they feel there is not enough scientific evidence the product is safe and requires exporters to label shipments containing genetically altered commodities such as corn or cotton. Particularly concerned about safe handling and transboundary movement of LMOs Supplement to Convention on Biological Diversity (1993) Three main objectives: The conservation of biological diversity The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources
Be familiar with the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion's food plans; which of these food plans are the benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) based on?
The Thrifty Food Plan The Low-Cost Food Plan The Moderate-Cost Food Plan The Liberal Food Plan SNAP benefits are based on the Thrifty Food Plan (low cost model)
Be able to recognize the three key agencies responsible for regulating GMO foods or crops
USDA FDA EPA
Understand why the fiscal year for the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) differs from the federal fiscal year
Why does the FNS fiscal year start in Summer? New programs/policies/procedures can be implemented in Summer, giving schools/school systems time to put things in place before the school year begins
What circumstances prompted Congress to authorize $60 million in 1943 for maintaining school lunch and school milk programs for the next year? Previously, surplus agricultural commodities were sent to schools. What circumstances led to fewer commodities available for use by schools?
World War II had a major impact on this program. The huge supplies of food needed by the military relieved surpluses, leading to less food available for distribution to schools
How did school food service programs initially begin in the U.S.?
every child shall be given a certain amount of instruction, let us render it possible for them to receive it...by making full and adequate provision for the physical needs of the children who come from the homes of poverty." In 1894, the Starr Center Association began serving penny lunches in one school in 1894 in Philadelphia and later expanded to several other schools In 1912, Dr. Cheesman Herrick helped move the responsibilities for operation of Philadelphia's school lunch program from charitable organizations to the School Board's Department of High School Lunches
What is the main driver behind the efforts by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to update regulations regarding biotechnology?
re-think existing regulations due to the fact they may not covr crops and animals engineered using new tech such as CRISPR