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Budget calls for food safety, nutrition
increases
Source of Article: http://thepacker.com/icms/_dtaa2/content/wrapper.asp?alink=2009-172155-590.asp&stype=topstory&fb=&author=Tom+Karst
By Tom Karst
(Feb. 26, 5:20 p.m.)
Revealing an interest in boosting the federal feeding programs and food
safety oversight, the White House fiscal year 2010 budget proposes $1 billion
per year increase for child nutrition programs and a similar increase for
food safety oversight efforts.
The 146-page budget, released Feb. 26, reflects spending estimated between
$3.5 trillion and $4 trillion, with about a $1.75 trillion deficit, media
accounts said.
Offering no specific details, the White House said the budget invests more
than $1 billion for Food and Drug Administration food safety efforts to
improve inspections, domestic surveillance, laboratory capacity and response
to foodborne illness outbreaks.
Meanwhile, the White House said the budget supports a strong child Nutrition
and WIC reauthorization package that will help keep President Obama’s promise
to end childhood hunger by 2015.
The White House said the budget provides an increase of $1 billion annually
to improve access to, and nutritional value of, school meals. Another
provision supports 9.8 million participants in the Women Infants and Children
nutrition assistance program, up from about 8.7 million in fiscal year 2008.
Child nutrition programs, costing an estimated $15 billion a year, are up for
reauthorization by Congress this year. The White House budget is expected to add about $10
billion to the programs through fiscal year 2019.
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