Food And Nutrition

Every February, the United States honors and celebrates the rich, cultural heritage of African Americans, including their triumphs and adversities that are integral to our nation’s history and success. To pay tribute to those who came before me and cultivate a better future for my three daughters, I share some of my journey to advance nutrition security and health equity through public service and highlight ways I hope each of you can join me in these efforts.

Pineapple on pizza is up for debate, but food safety is not. When including pizza in your Super Bowl party, make sure food safety is included in the toppings.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is committed to connecting all Americans with healthy, safe, affordable food sources. Towards fulfilling that commitment, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has launched multiple customer experience (CX) initiatives since President Joe Biden issued in December 2021 the Executive Order directing federal agencies to improve the experience for customers accessing government services and benefits.

Our nation's lands are vital to providing clean water, fish and wildlife habitat, sustainable wood, minerals, energy, jobs and places for Americans to enjoy the outdoors. USDA’s Forest Service is responsible for managing 193 million acres of grasslands and forests. For rural America to thrive, we recognize we must partner with land managers and landowners.

What kid doesn’t enjoy eating their favorite dish in the school cafeteria? As a kid, I was always excited when broccoli cheese soup was on my school lunch menu! But, what if the foods that kids eat at home and in their community aren’t served in school? This is a challenge that some children face across the country, especially in schools serving students from the Federally Recognized Tribes and/or Native Hawaiians.

There’s still time to register for tomorrow’s 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee meeting. The meeting will be livestreamed on January 19, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET. Convened jointly by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA), the committee will hear updates from each subcommittee and discuss progress made since the third public meeting. Topics will include protocol development, evidence review and synthesis, draft conclusion statements, and plans for future committee work, including development of the committee’s scientific report. The meeting’s agenda is available on DietaryGuidelines.gov.

USDA has taken bold action to expand equitable access to our programs and services to improve customer experience (CX) for America’s farmers, ranchers and forest managers since President Joe Biden signed the Executive Order Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government in December 2021.

National Milk Day is observed on January 11th each year to commemorate the day in 1878 when milk deliveries began in glass bottles sealed with waxed paper. It is also a time to appreciate the contributions of dairy farmers and serves as a reminder of the nutritional value and cultural significance of dairy in the lives of many Americans.

The next meeting of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee will be held on January 19, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET. Convened jointly by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA), the committee will hear updates from each subcommittee and discuss progress made since the third public meeting. Topics will include protocol development, evidence review and synthesis, draft conclusion statements, and plans for future committee work, including development of the committee’s scientific report.

Happy New Year! At USDA, we are more committed than ever to providing employees and customers with the best experience possible in 2024.