On July 31st, representatives Rosa DeLauro Marcia Fudge and Cheri Bustos questioned the policies of the USDA with respect to the Families Food Box Program.

On Friday, July 24th, the USDA announced restrictions on the third phase of the program that would require farmers to supply combination boxes including produce, dairy products, meat products and fluid milk.  It will eliminate most of the farmers participating in the program that have up to now received contracts for single-item boxes containing one of four food categories.  The availability of a broad range of products is beyond the capability of most farmers and was characterized by the Representatives as approaching the USDA harvest box proposal that was denied Congressional authorization.

The Representatives noted "first because USDA has rushed this program out of the door, there is very little quality control with regard to who gets these contracts and who is qualified to actually meet the need".  In questioning problems relating to the program an executive of a food bank noted "this is a humanitarian effort not a gravy train".

The Representatives noted lack of planning and strategy and inexplicable decisions and policies as to how funds were distributed and the regions to which the country was divided in terms of food distribution.  The letter noted that USDA has refused to provide any insight or background as to how decisions were made and what quality controls were implemented or action to correct deficiencies.

Eggs were not included in the program presumably on the basis that a cold chain is necessary from farm through the contractors assembling boxes to the food banks responsible for distribution.  Given that food banks are successfully distributing donated eggs in large quantities, they are obviously equipped to participate in the program.  The inherent nutritional qualities of eggs would have enhanced the value of boxes distributed to the needy.