AP in a report today calls attention to a little-noticed provision in the
Agriculture Act of 2014 that was signed into law by the President on Feb. 7. Sec. 4207 of the Act provides for increased purchase of kosher and halal food for the government's emergency food assistance program. The Section provides:
As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall finalize and implement a plan—
(1) to increase the purchase of Kosher and Halal food from food manufacturers with a Kosher or Halal certification to carry out the program established under [the Emergency Food Assistance Act] if the Kosher and Halal food purchased is cost neutral as compared to food that is not from food manufacturers with a Kosher or Halal certification; and
(2) to modify the labeling of the commodities list used to carry out the program in a manner that enables Kosher and Halal distribution entities to identify which commodities to obtain from local food banks.
