Food and Nutrition Service

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service leverages its [16 nutrition assistance programs](https://www.fns.usda.gov/programs) to ensure children, income eligible individuals, and families have equitable access to healthy, safe, and affordable foods that promote optimal health and well-being, while building a more resilient food system. FNS accomplishes this by partnering with over 175 states, U.S. territories, and tribal organizations that operate federal nutrition programs. FNS programs serve 1 in 4 Americans over the course of a year. FNS’s mission is to increase food security and reduce hunger in partnership with cooperating organizations by providing children and low-income people access to food, a healthy diet, and nutrition education in a manner that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence. Our commitment to [nutrition security](https://www.usda.gov/nutrition-security) applies a health equity lens to the way we operate our programs. We recognize that long standing disparities in diet-related diseases are rooted in structural racism and require equities beyond those available in FNS. Therefore, FNS is working with our federal partners and stakeholders across the country to meet the goals of the [White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health](https://health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/white-house-conference-hunger-nutrition-and-health) to promote and elevate nutrition security.