[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 4]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR247.8]

[Page 380-381]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
    CHAPTER II--FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 247--COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 247.8  Nutrition education.

    (a) General. Nutrition education shall be thoroughly integrated into 
Program operations. Nutrition education shall be designed to be easily 
understood by individual participants and shall bear a practical 
relationship to their nutritional needs and household situations.
    (b) Goals. Nutrition education shall be based on the following two 
broad goals: (1) To emphasize the relationship of proper nutrition to 
the total concept of good health, with special emphasis on the 
nutritional needs of pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, 
infants and children under 6 years of age; and
    (2) To assist participants in obtaining a positive change in food 
habits, resulting in improved nutritional status and in the prevention 
of nutrition related problems through maximum use of the supplemental 
and other nutritious foods. This use is to be within the context of 
ethnic, cultural and geographic preferences. Consideration should also 
be given to tailoring nutrition education to meet any limitations 
experienced by groups of participants, such as lack of running water, 
lack of electricity, and limited cooking or refrigeration facilities.
    (c) State agency responsibilities. The State agency shall ensure 
that the local agency fully performs its responsibilities as set forth 
in paragraph (d) of this section. The State agency shall also ensure 
that an evaluation procedure is maintained to determine the 
effectiveness of the nutrition education. Such evaluation procedure 
shall include a systematic procedure for participant input and may be 
conducted directly by State and local agencies or by contract for such 
services, so long as the evaluation is directed by a nutritionist or 
other professional determined by the State agency to be qualified to 
perform the evaluation procedure.
    (d) Local agency responsibilities. (1) The local agency shall make 
nutrition education available to all adult participants and to parents 
or guardians of infant and child participants. Where appropriate, 
nutrition education for child participants is encouraged.
    (2) The local agency shall direct Program funds for nutrition 
education to the benefit of participants and local agency staff members 
involved in nutrition education, in accordance with this part.
    (3) The local agency shall conduct or arrange for nutrition 
education in a

[[Page 381]]

manner consistent with the nutrition education portion of the State 
Plan.
    (4) The local agency shall include the following subject matter in 
the instruction given to participants:
    (i) An explanation of the importance of the consumption of the 
supplemental foods by the participant for whom they are prescribed 
rather than by other family members; (ii) reference to any special 
nutritional needs of participants and ways to provide adequate diets; 
(iii) an explanation of the Program as a supplemental rather than a 
total food program; (iv) information on the use of the supplemental 
foods and on the nutritional value of these foods; (v) information on 
the benefits of breastfeeding; and (vi) an explanation of the importance 
of health care.
    (e) Food demonstrations. Any food demonstrations using supplemental 
foods shall be conducted by the State or local agency solely in 
conjunction with nutrition education and primarily for participants 
under the Program. Supplemental foods may not be used for outreach, 
refreshments for participants, or any other such purpose. Supplemental 
foods may not be provided to any other community agency or facility for 
any purpose whatsoever, unless such agency has entered into a signed 
written agreement with the State or local agency to provide nutrition 
education services under the Program.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 
0584-0063)

[46 FR 6341, Jan. 21, 1981, as amended at 47 FR 746, Jan. 7, 1982]