USDA rules and regulations promote animal welfare and plant health.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees food safety rules and regulations, authorizes organic food certifications, implements national school meal programs, establishes animal welfare policies and monitors urban development projects. The USDA also establishes policies and procedures for hundreds of specialized programs, including the Special Milk Program and the Women, Infants and Children program. USDA laws promote the health and welfare of U.S. citizens, crops and livestock, imports and exports.
Food Safety Rules
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the "USDA regulations and policies govern food safety related programs, processed product directives, the import and export of meat, poultry, and egg products, and laboratory services." The USDA rules and regulations provide quality assurance at all levels of food production, cultivation, distribution, preparation and consumption. The USDA enforces policies and procedures regarding animal welfare, plant health, crop and livestock sales, grain and stockyard inspections and rural land development.
Organic Food Certification
The USDA enforces national organic certification policies, to guarantee organic foods produced within the United States meet minimum standards. Agents certify that foods claiming the "organic" label have been produced and processed organically. According to the USDA website, "U.S. producers are turning to certified organic farming systems as a potential way to lower input costs, decrease reliance on nonrenewable resources, capture high-value markets and premium prices, and boost farm income." A section on farming and marketing practices explains, that "organic farming systems rely on ecologically based practices such as cultural and biological pest management, exclusion of all synthetic chemicals, antibiotics, and hormones in crop and livestock production." A uniform USDA organic certification label informs U.S. consumers that the product is free of particular harmful chemicals and pesticides. Organic imports must also meet national standards to be certified as organic and distributed in American markets.
School Meal Program Regulations
The national school meals programs include a free and reduced price schedule, school breakfast guidelines, school lunch guidelines and a subsidized milk program. A majority of public child care facilities, preschools, elementary schools, junior high schools and high schools qualify for federal subsidies. Schools receive financial incentives and state reimbursements in exchange for program implementation. Failure to successfully implement the federal meal programs can lead to suspension or termination of federal assistance. The USDA provides strict guidelines on the nutritional value of each meal, including the percentage of fat, saturated fat, protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A and vitamin C. These percentages vary according to the age of the children. The federal government issues reimbursements to states based on the actual number of school meal program participants and meals served.
Women, Infants and Children Program
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service administers a program specifically designed to increase the nutritional value in the diets of Women, Infants and Children (WIC). The Food and Nutrition Service website includes a statement about the program objectives: "WIC provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breast-feeding, and non-breast-feeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age 5 who are found to be at nutritional risk." Both single-parent and two-parent households can apply. The application process takes approximately 20 minutes and checks are issued at the same time. Requirements include proof of address, documentation for children under 5 and income eligibility. Item-specific checks are issued each month, for dairy products, whole grain cereals and bread and fruit and vegetable juices. In 2010, WIC started distributing $6 fruit and vegetable vouchers. The local WIC office also distributes local farmers' market vouchers.
Related posts
Dog owners in Indiana should remain mindful of both state and local laws protecting their pets.The inter-species friendship of human and canine has flourished for many centuries. Today, residents...
School lunches are required to contain fruits and vegetables.Many adults remember eating school lunches. They often run the gamut from decent to decidedly unappetizing. However, there has been a r...
Kennels for transport must meet APHIS requirements.The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS), a division of the USDA, is the regulating body for all companion animal transport in the...
Animal shelters in Louisiana must follow certain rules and regulations to operate. These laws apply to construction, operation and adoption. The following information gives an overview of Louisian...
California laws protect buyers of sick puppies.If you purchase a sick dog (or cat) from a pet dealer in California, state laws provide you with rights and remedies similar to consumer rights under...
