National Canned Food Month

National Canned Food Month

The story of canned food goes back to the waning years of the French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte's offer of 12,000 francs to anyone who could develop a method of preserving food for his army. Frenchman Nicolas Appert claimed the prize by discovering that applying heat to food in sealed glass bottles improved its shelf life. As a result, Appert's research led to the current canning methods.

To help support nutrition education and reduce nutrition insecurity of low-income families, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) provides funding to the Supplemental Nutrition Education Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). During National Canned Food Month, celebrate with NIFA as we highlight a few federally funded programs aimed to help families obtain nutritional foods.

February is a great time to go through your canned food items to check the expiration dates. If you have extras (unexpired) items, consider donating to a local food pantry to help your neighbors during a time of need.

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