Domestic food policy in the United States

In this paper we review the major outlines of domestic food programs, assess their adequacy, and recommend ways to improve the relationship between food programs and hunger relief. In the Food Stamp Program we treat problems of outreach, coverage and the adequacy of benefits, and rationing access through imposition of costs on recipients. For WIC and commodity distribution programs we also discuss problems associated with the fragmentation of authority and dependence on nonprofit distributors.