DES MOINES, Iowa — The proposed alternative to Summer EBT by Iowa officials has been denied by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In a letter dated Oct. 4 to Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Director Kelly Garcia, the FNS laid out the basis for the denial in four parts, stating that existing programs do a more than acceptable job reaching and feeding children.
"The evaluation of more than a decade of Summer EBT demonstration projects has already found Summer EBT to be a proven strategy that significantly reduced hunger and improved diet quality," the USDA said.
Limited federal funds for a feeding demonstration project like the food boxes project proposed Gov. Kim Reynolds, was another cited reason for the denial.
Garcia and Reynolds have voiced concern over the quality of food available through Summer EBT along with the ability to serve all who are in need.
“The complex issues of food insecurity and obesity cannot be solved with cash benefits that don’t actively promote health, nutrition-dense food, or reach all Iowa children in need,” Garcia said earlier this year.
However, the USDA letter counters by saying, "The proposed demonstration project does not provide compelling evidence of the potential benefits of an untested alternative model rather than implementing the research-backed Summer EBT."
To end the letter, the FNS restated its commitment to Iowa and the state's children.
"FNS stands ready to support the State of Iowa with the implementation of Summer EBT and expansion of USDA’s existing Summer Nutrition Programs (SFSP), so we can reach more children with the nutrition they need over the summer and set them up for success."
In response to the decision, Reynolds issued the following statement:
Our summer feeding demonstration project would feed nearly 60,000 more Iowa children. We look forward to presenting our plan to the new administration.