USDA does not provide standard, user-friendly guidance to state and local agencies that implement food pantry-like assistance programs, and does not effectively track program progress, a recent Government Accountability Office report found.
While USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services oversees implementation of The Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, regional officials report a lack of clear guidance, like a handbook for those directly administering the programs, according to the report. GAO found 69 TEFAP and 46 CSFP guidance documents.
It’s easy to be “in the know” about what’s happening in Washington, D.C. Sign up for a FREE month of Agri-Pulse news! Simply click here
Additionally, officials reported difficulties dealing in a timely manner with deliveries that contained spoiled food, which can result in “inefficiencies and tense interactions” at food banks, according to the report. The report also describes a gap in understanding how effective the two programs are because of a lack of data and set performance assessments.
As a result of these findings, GAO recommended FNS create a program handbook or a consolidated list of TEFAP and CSFP guidance to be published online for state and local agencies. The agency also should create a plan for resolving USDA food delivery issues and set a performance assessment system for both programs, GAO said.
USDA told GAO it “generally concurred” with the recommendations but said it may need additional funding to collect data for performance goals and to measure progress.
