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The Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services is a position created within the United States Department of Agriculture in 1993, and is responsible for administrating the Department's fifteen nutrition and food security programs and for promoting the dietary guidelines.
The food assistance programs have a combined budget of $170.5 billion and include the Food Stamp Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, and the Commodity Distribution Programs. In addition, the Undersecretary oversees the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, which leads the development of dietary guidelines and which promotes the guidelines through the Food Guide Pyramid (MyPyramid.gov).
Goals of the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services include combatting obesity, promoting better eating and physical activity habits, and helping needy families obtain a nutritious diet. According to The New York Times, the nutrition segment of the Department of Agriculture received 53% of the Department's budget at the time of the creation of the position.
The Under Secretary is appointed by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate. He manages the Food and Nutrition Services and the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. The current Under Secretary is Kevin Concannon.