Appendix F Disclaimer_03182021

Appendix F: Disclaimer

The Economic Research Service (ERS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Census Bureau are conducting a study to evaluate the usability of a mobile app, FoodLogger. FoodLogger is to be used to collect data of a national survey on Americans’ food acquisitions and to help USDA make sure that Americans can afford to get healthy food. The results of study will help enhance survey data quality and respondents’ experience.

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0536-0073 (Expiration Date: 05/31/2022). This information collection asks participants to report food or drinks they buy or obtain for seven days, to report meals and snacks taken over the course of seven days, to track their GPS locations throughout the duration of the study, to complete a demographic questionnaire, to participate in debriefing interviews, and to complete a group of tasks in a virtual laboratory setting in which Microsoft Teams will be used to take audio-and-video recordings of meetings with participants during the study. The time required for you to participate in this Study is estimated 7.9 hours. This information collection is not mandatory, and your participation is voluntary.

This study does not require the study staff to access any of your personal information. You do not have to provide any personal or sensitive information (e.g., relating to illegal behaviors, alcohol or drug use, sexual attitudes, mental health, etc.). Information provided to this study does not have the potential to damage your financial standing, employability or reputation, or place you at risk of criminal or civil liability. Data collected from you will be de-identified.

All information which would permit identification of an individual, a practice, or an establishment will be held confidential, will be used for statistical purposes only, will be used only by USDA staff, contractors, and agents authorized by USDA to perform statistical activities only when required and with necessary controls, and will not be disclosed or released to other persons without the consent of the individual or establishment in accordance with the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (PL-107-347). By law, every employee as well as every agent has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to five years, a fine of up to $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about you. Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, Federal information systems are protected from malicious activities through cybersecurity screening of transmitted data.