USDA Announces 2026 Emergency Food Box Contents for States
Published Date: 5/19/2026
Notice
Summary
The USDA is sharing a fresh batch of foods for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in Fiscal Year 2026 to help feed families in need. States will get their food supplies based on poverty and unemployment rates, and they decide how to share it with local groups for meals or home use. This update keeps the food flowing smoothly with no big changes in funding, so hungry folks won’t miss a beat!
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Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
State TEFAP Allocation Formula
The law requires that State TEFAP food allocations be split so 60 percent is based on the number of people below the poverty level in the State and 40 percent is based on the percentage of the nation’s unemployed persons in the State. This allocation formula is set by section 214 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act and applies for FY 2026.
Surplus Foods Worth $358M Delivered
Approximately $358 million in surplus foods acquired in FY 2025 are being delivered to States in FY 2026 for distribution through TEFAP. The surplus items scheduled include fruits, fish, nuts, and berries such as apples, cherries, shrimp, pistachios, and strawberries.
Purchased Foods Estimated $465.2M for FY2026
The Department anticipates purchasing an estimated $465.2 million worth of foods in FY 2026 for distribution through TEFAP. The exact amounts of each purchased item depend on prices and State requests and may change with market conditions.
State Discretion on Meal vs Home Distribution
States have full discretion to decide how much of their TEFAP foods to give to eligible recipient agencies for preparing meals and/or for distribution to households for home consumption. State officials also establish the network through which ERAs will use the foods.
Some Foods Require Kosher or Halal Certification
The FY 2026 USDA Foods list identifies certain items requiring kosher certification (marked K) and items requiring halal certification (marked H). The notice defines K as Kosher Certification Required and H as Halal Certification Required for distribution considerations.
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