Food and Health
Ensuring Healthy Communities through Food & Health Policies
Grocery stores are essential partners in federal nutrition programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), helping to ensure access to healthy food in their communities.
Since food and health policies directly impact NGA members, it is vital that their perspectives are heard by Congress and the Administration. NGA is dedicated to advocating for policies that promote food security, support public health, and strengthen the role of grocery stores in building healthy communities.
SNAP
SNAP is the largest federal nutrition program providing benefits to tens of millions of Americans every year. Grocery stores are a critical partner in this program as SNAP benefits can only be redeemed at SNAP-authorized retailers like grocery stores.
SNAP is authorized by the Farm Bill, and every five years Congress looks at how the program can be improved. Changes in the Farm Bill can greatly affect how SNAP works in the grocery store and directly impact our members.
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Healthy Benefits Cards
Healthy benefit cards are provided by health insurance plans, mostly Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, as an extra benefit to their customers. These cards provide a cash benefit that can be used to purchase a predetermined set of foods.
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 created the Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) program, which allows MA plans to offer extra benefits to participants with chronic diseases, elevated risks for hospitalization, and those requiring intensive care coordination. These benefits have been widely implemented across MA, with an estimated 17 million participants in 2024.
WIC
WIC is the federal nutrition assistance program targeted specifically for moms, kids, and babies. This program provides targeted nutrients to meet the needs of a growing family. Grocers are a critical partner as WIC benefits are redeemed at WIC-authorized retailers.
The WIC program is authorized by the Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR) legislation, which is supposed to pass every five years. The last CNR was passed in 2010, and much has changed since then.
NGA is urging Congress to make updates to the WIC program to increase access and ease for participating families.
Traceability
Our Traceability Center is your ultimate resource for navigating and complying with FDA food traceability regulations. The FDA’s Food Traceability Rule, issued in 2022, demands tracking a wide range of foods from their origin in the field through every step of the supply chain to the point of sale. This complex requirement has posed significant challenges, given the need for advanced communication between disparate technological systems and some that are yet to be developed.
NGA is dedicated to supporting you through these changes by offering a comprehensive suite of tools, guides, and best practices designed to streamline your traceability processes. We’re actively working to slow the implementation of this rule while assisting retailers in meeting its requirements. Explore our expert-curated resources to stay ahead of regulatory updates, enhance your food safety measures, and protect your business. For more information on our legislative efforts and detailed guidance on implementation, visit the relevant sections of our website.
Traceability FDA Advocacy
Pharmacy
White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
On September 28, 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration hosted the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. At this conference, the Administration announced a National Strategy that identifies steps the government will take and catalyzes the public and private sectors to address the intersections between food, hunger, nutrition, and health.
