Milling & Baking News - May 19, 2009 - 44

Washington

President's budget would expand
U.S. foreign food assistance
WASHINGTON - U.S. foreign food
assistance would receive a big boost if
the president's fiscal 2010 budget for
the U.S. Department of Agriculture is
approved by Congress.
The budget, detailed last week, proposed a doubling in appropriated funding for the McGovern-Dole International
Food for Education and Child Nutrition
Program in fiscal 2010 to nearly $200
million from the $100 million authorized in the 2009 budget (Congress subsequently authorized an additional $84
million for the program for use in fiscal
2009, bringing projected spending in the
current year to $184 million).
The McGovern-Dole program provides for the donation of U.S. agricultural commodities and associated
financial and technical assistance to
carry out preschool and school feeding programs in developing nations.
Maternal, infant and child nutrition
programs also are authorized under
the program. Its purpose is to reduce

the incidence of hunger and malnutrition and improve literacy and primary
education. The program has a strong
track record and enjoys broad congressional support.
The budget proposed funding P.L.480
Title II food donations to other nations
at $1,690 million, up from an authorized
$1,226 million in fiscal 2009 and $1,211
million in fiscal 2008. It should be noted
separate emergency appropriations to
provide funding for additional P.L.480
Title II donations in the current year
was expected to bring total spending
on the nation's principal program for
donating food abroad to an estimated
$1,921 million in fiscal 2009.
The U.S.D.A. budget statement noted, "By providing additional funding
to the program, the budget request
reduces reliance on future emergency
supplemental funding and reflects the
fact that worldwide emergency needs
for food assistance have increased
substantially in recent years."

The department's budget proposed
funding of $146 million for Food for
Progress, down from an estimated
$206 million in fiscal 2009. Food for
Progress authorizes the provision
of U.S. agricultural commodities to
developing countries and emerging
democracies that have made commitments to introduce and expand free
enterprise in their agricultural economies. The budget assumed the $146
million in funding would support
approximately 155,000 tonnes of commodity assistance.
The president's budget would provide $25 million in funding for purchases of food in localities and regions
close to where emergency hunger
outbreaks occur. The funding was required under the 2008 farm act, which
created a pilot program to assess the
effectiveness of local and regional
food purchases. The program was authorized through 2012.
The proposed increases in food assistance were consistent with the administration's goals of doubling the
level of foreign assistance and fostering world food security. MBN

Clarification issued on WIC bread
containing fruits, nuts or seeds
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of
Agriculture has clarified for the Independent
Bakers Association questions about whether
whole grain bread containing fruits, nuts or
seeds may qualify for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children - the WIC Program.
According to the U.S.D.A., bakers may
incorporate these inclusions in bread so
long as whole grain is the primary ingredient by weight in all whole grain products. Other requirements are consistent

with those for making the health claim
for whole grains - "Whole grain food
with a moderate fat content."
As such, the bread must contain 51%
whole grains, meet regulator definitions
of "low saturated fat" and "low cholesterol," bear quantitative trans fat labeling
and contain no more than 6.5 grams of total fat per RACC (reference amount customarily consumed) and no more than
half a gram of trans fat per RACC.
Prompting the interaction between the

U.S.D.A. and the I.B.A. was a member's
cranberry apple and cinnamon raisin bread
varieties that met the WIC whole grains
rules but were questioned by representatives
of a WIC program in a Midwestern state.
The I.B.A. said the state expressed concerns
about whether bread with fruit should be allowed. The concern related to whether adding fruit could raise the sugar level above
limits set for certain WIC products.
"Although that sugar requirement is
limited to cereals and not whole grain
items, the state inquiry demonstrated the
need for clarification on allowable added
items such as fruits as well as other items
such as nuts and seeds," the I.B.A. said. MBN

"Good Millers Since 1906"

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405-273-7000

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405-822-4411

Milling & Baking News

May 19, 2009 / 45

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Milling & Baking News - May 19, 2009

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