WASHINGTON, D.C. — Food banks and emergency food providers across the country could soon receive millions in federal support to distribute more meat, eggs, dairy, and seafood to struggling families under a new Trump administration initiative focused on nutrition and food access.
What This Means for You
- HHS and USDA announced up to $15 million combined to improve access to protein-rich foods.
- Federal officials say the effort aims to reduce food waste while helping families access more nutritious meals.
- Nonprofits and emergency food providers may receive funding to improve refrigerated storage and food distribution systems.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a $7.5 million agreement with HATCH for Hunger, a nonprofit focused on redirecting surplus protein supplies to families in need.
At the same time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture unveiled plans for a separate competitive grant program that could provide up to $7.5 million to strengthen “cold chain infrastructure” — the refrigerated storage and transportation systems needed to safely distribute perishable foods such as meat, eggs, seafood, and dairy products.
Federal officials described the programs as part of a broader effort to improve nutrition security, reduce food waste, and address diet-related chronic disease.
Agencies Focus on Nutrition and Food Access
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. framed the initiative as part of the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
“Access to real, nutritious food is one of the foundations of good health,” Kennedy said. “This investment will expand access to high-quality protein, reduce food waste, and help food banks deliver the nutrition families need to prevent chronic disease and live healthier lives.”
The agencies stated that the initiative aligns with the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommend protein-rich foods as part of a healthy diet.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are federal nutrition recommendations updated every five years to help guide public health and food policy.
Brooke Rollins pointed to the need for expanded refrigerated storage and transportation systems to help emergency food providers handle fresh products safely while also supporting domestic agriculture.
“With this investment, USDA is strengthening the infrastructure that ensures our fresh, high-quality food reaches Americans in need,” Rollins said. “By expanding cold storage and distribution capacity, we are supporting our producers, reducing food waste, and delivering nutritious food.”
Food Banks Face Major Protein Shortage
Officials involved in the initiative noted that charitable food organizations continue to face significant shortages of protein products because of storage, transportation, and distribution limitations.
Jeff Simmons, CEO of Elanco Animal Health and board chairman of HATCH for Hunger, estimated that charitable food networks nationwide face an 800 million-pound annual protein gap.
A protein gap refers to the difference between the amount of protein foods families need and the amount food assistance organizations can currently provide.
Simmons identified infrastructure and logistics barriers as major obstacles preventing fresh protein products from reaching more families through food assistance programs.
“I’m incredibly grateful to HHS and USDA for their efforts to improve accessibility, as well as America’s farmers and the U.S. protein industry for rallying behind this cause,” Simmons said.
More Grant Details Expected Later
USDA indicated that additional details about the competitive grant process will be released later.
The agencies described the broader initiative as an effort to better coordinate agriculture, nutrition, and public health policy while increasing access to nutrient-dense foods for families facing food insecurity.
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