The U.S. Department of Agriculture said about a quarter of all Americans receive food aid from government programs, and that the agency has responsibility for helping people make healthier food choices.
"Approximately 1 in 4 Americans participated in at least one of the 15 food and nutrition assistance programs at some point during FY 2013, making these programs fundamental to the nutritional well-being of millions of Americans," the USDA said in a statement, according to The Washington Free Beacon.
As part of its drive to "nudge" Americans toward eating healthier, the USDA announced it is setting up a new $2 million research center called the Center for Behavioral Economics and Healthy Food Choice Research. The center will fund research on "facilitating food choice behaviors" and improving the diets of people on food stamps, according to the Free Beacon.
"The USDA Center will facilitate new and innovative research on the application of behavioral economics theory to healthy food choice behaviors that would contribute to enhancing the nutrition, food security, and health of American consumers," the USDA said in an announcement calling for grant applications.
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