**GAO-07-560**                      Published: Apr 13, 2007. Publicly Released: Apr 13, 2007.                  

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## Highlights

The United States is the largest global food aid donor, accounting for over half of all food aid supplies to alleviate hunger and support development. Since 2002, Congress has appropriated an average of $2 billion per year for U.S. food aid programs, which delivered an average of 4 million metric tons of food commodities per year. Despite growing demand for food aid, rising business and transportation costs have contributed to a 52 percent decline in average tonnage delivered over the last 5 years. These costs represent 65 percent of total emergency food aid, highlighting the need to maximize its efficiency and effectiveness. Based on analysis of agency documents, interviews with experts and practitioners, and fieldwork, this report examines some key challenges to the (1) efficiency of U.S. food aid programs and (2) effective use of U.S. food aid.

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## Topics

International Affairs

Contaminated foodsCost analysisFederal aid to foreign countriesFood inspectionFood relief programsFood supplyForeign aid programsInternational food programsProcurementRisk assessmentStrategic planningTransportation costsPolicies and proceduresProgram costsTimeliness