The free-food empire strikes back

The suspended nonprofit Partners in Nutrition wins a round in its appeal against the state Dept. of Education.

One of three free-food nonprofits suspended in the wake of the Feeding Our Future FBI raids, Partners in Nutrition has won a round in its effort to be reinstated to the Federal child nutrition programs.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that a three-person panel sided with Partners in its appeal of its January suspension, on due process grounds.

The paper reports, however, that the money won’t necessarily start flowing again to the nonprofit. The Department has separately ruled against paying invoices submitted by Partners for November and December and that appeal has yet to be heard.

At the time it was shut down, Partners claimed to be feeding tens of thousands of low-income children every day. In the four months it has been closed, there has been no outcry from parents or the subsidiary nonprofits overseen by Partners.

Over the years, Partners has had significant success in litigation against the Department, perhaps more success than actually delivering food to hungry children. Since beginning operations, Partners has taken in more than $200 million from the Federal free-food programs.