[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 88 (Friday, May 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27089-27090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-09724]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Generic Clearance for 
the Development of Nutrition Education Messages and Products for the 
General Public

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on this proposed information collection. This is a revision of a 
currently approved collection. This notice announces the Center for 
Nutrition Policy and Promotion's (CNPP) intention to request the Office 
of Management and Budget's approval of the information collection 
processes and instruments to be used during consumer research while 
testing nutrition education messages and products developed for the 
general public. The purpose of performing consumer research is to 
identify consumers' understanding of potential nutrition education 
messages and obtain their reaction to prototypes of nutrition education 
products, including internet-based tools. The information collected 
will be used to refine messages and improve the usefulness of products 
as well as aid consumer understanding of Dietary Guidelines-grounded 
messages and related materials.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before July 5, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Jessica Larson, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, Fourth 
Floor, Alexandria, VA 22314. Comments may also be submitted via email 
to [email protected]. Comments will also be accepted through 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov and 
follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of this information collection should be directed to Jessica 
Larson at 703-305-7600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
that were used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden 
of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Title: Generic Clearance for the Development of Nutrition Education 
Messages and Products for the General Public.
    Form Number: Not applicable.
    OMB Number: 0584-0523.
    Expiration Date: 11/30/2022.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) of 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducts consumer research to 
identify key issues of concern related to the public understanding the 
consumer translation of key guidance from the Dietary Guidelines for 
Americans (Dietary Guidelines or Guidelines) into consumer messages, 
tools and resources.
    As background, the Dietary Guidelines is a primary source of 
dietary health information in the form of technical publication written 
for use by professional audiences, not consumers. Users include Federal 
agencies, health professionals, policy makers, and nutrition educators. 
Issued jointly by the USDA and Health and Human Services (HHS) every 
five years, the Guidelines serve as the cornerstone of Federal 
nutrition policy and form the basis for these agencies' development of 
consumer nutrition education efforts (nutrition messaging and 
development of consumer materials). Translation of key guidance from 
the technically written Dietary Guidelines into consumer messages and 
resources is essential so that the public has resources to help them 
make healthier eating choices. After the release of the 2010 Dietary 
Guidelines for use by professional audiences, a consumer communication 
initiative built around USDA's new MyPlate icon, including the 
resources at www.MyPlate.gov, was launched. MyPlate is a visual cue 
supported by messages and resources to help consumers make better food 
choices; these consumer materials are consistent with the Dietary 
Guidelines. It illustrates the five food groups and uses a familiar 
mealtime visual, a place setting, to prompt Americans to eat more 
healthfully. Information collected from consumer research will be used 
in further development of consumer nutrition messages and related 
resources to be communicated through MyPlate. These may include:
    1. Messages and resources that help consumers make healthier food 
choices, grounded in the latest Dietary Guidelines;
    2. Additions and enhancements to the www.MyPlate.gov website;
    3. Materials relaying consumer messages supporting MyPlate, 
grounded in the latest Dietary Guidelines, for special population 
groups; and
    4. New policy, messages, resources, and tools that might be 
developed as a result of the most current Dietary Guidelines, as well 
as the most currently available technologies.
    CNPP works to improve the health and well-being of Americans by 
developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific 
research to the nutrition needs of consumers across the lifespan.
    CNPP has among its major functions the development and coordination 
of nutrition guidance within USDA and is involved in the investigation 
of techniques for effective nutrition communication. Under Subtitle D 
of the National Agriculture Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3171-3175), the Secretary of Agriculture is 
required to develop and implement a national food and human nutrition 
research and extension program, including the development of techniques 
to assist consumers in selecting food that supplies a nutritionally 
adequate diet. Pursuant to 7 CFR 2.19(a)(3), the Secretary of 
Agriculture has delegated authority to CNPP for, among other things, 
developing materials to aid the public in selecting food for good 
nutrition; coordinating nutrition education promotion and professional 
education projects within the Department; and consulting with the 
Federal and State agencies, the Congress, universities, and other 
public and private organizations and the general public regarding food 
consumption and dietary adequacy.
    Under Section 301 of Public Law 101-445 (7 U.S.C. 5341, the 
National

[[Page 27090]]

Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990, Title III) the 
Secretaries of USDA and HHS are directed to publish the Dietary 
Guidelines for Americans jointly at least every five years. The law 
instructs that this publication shall contain nutritional and dietary 
information and guidelines for the general public, shall be based on 
the preponderance of scientific and medical knowledge current at the 
time of publication, and shall be promoted by each Federal agency in 
carrying out any Federal food, nutrition, or health program. Recent 
editions of the Dietary Guidelines provide dietary advice for Americans 
across the lifespan. By translating the Dietary Guidelines into 
consumer friendly nutrition education communication materials, CNPP and 
partnering agencies are able to help Americans make better or healthier 
food and beverage choices that can help improve health. One of the 
primary ways CNPP helps Americans apply the nutrition guidance in their 
daily lives is by developing and maintaining interactive, digital 
tools. CNPP's digital resources and tools provide hands-on learning 
opportunities that empower Americans to think critically about their 
food and health choices. Maintaining and enhancing CNPP's digital 
resources and tools are key in reversing the trend of childhood obesity 
and building a healthier next generation.
    USDA's MyPlate icon is supported by a robust consumer nutrition 
education program to assist Americans in selecting foods for a dietary 
pattern that is consistent with the Dietary Guidelines.
    Ensuring that MyPlate resources and related tools are useful to 
intended audiences is critical to CNPP's work and is a major activity 
included in its 5-year strategic plan in fulfillment of the Government 
Performance and Results Act of 1993 (31 U.S.C. 9701).
    Affected Public: Individual/Households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 57,700.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.006932 (One for 
focus group screeners, interview screeners, focus groups, journaling, 
interviews, web-based collections and consent forms. Three for consumer 
panels.).
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 58,100.
    Estimated Time per Response: 12.759 minutes (0.21265 hours).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 12,354.96 rounded up 
to 12,355 hours. See the table below for estimated total annual burden 
for each type of respondent.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN06MY22.024

    The total estimated annual burden is 12,355 hours and 58,100 
responses. Thus, we are requesting 37,065 three year burden estimates 
and 174,300 total responses for three year approval period. Current 
estimates are based on both historical numbers of respondents from past 
projects as well as estimates for projects to be conducted in the next 
three years.

Cynthia Long,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-09724 Filed 5-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P