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Food & Nutrition
2025 DGAC Publishes New and Updated Draft Protocols
The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) published new and updated draft protocols that were discussed during the third public meeting in September 2023. All of the draft protocols for the systematic review questions and approximately half of the draft protocols for the food pattern modeling analyses are available for public comment. The public is encouraged to submit comments on the protocols by November 17, 2023. Further updates to the protocols and the remaining food pattern modeling protocols will be published online following Committee discussions at a future public meeting.
RUF Announces Front-of-Package Nutrition Labeling Public Meeting
The Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA (RUF) announced that the agency is hosting a front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labeling virtual public meeting on November 16, 2023, from 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST. The public meeting will feature remarks from FDA, including Robert Califf, Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and James Jones, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods. During the meeting, FDA will share an overview of its work on FOP nutrition labeling, including an update on its ongoing consumer research. There will be an opportunity for stakeholder comment on three of the following key topics: 1) international experience with FOP labeling, 2) design considerations, such as placement and color, and 3) potential intersection with other nutrition-related policies, such as other labeling efforts and nutrition assistance programs. The deadline to request to present public comments is October 30, 2023.
On a related note, FDA published a blog highlighting the agency’s recent accomplishments in support of FDA’s additional nutrition priorities. The agency also published this statement by James Jones, sharing his commitment to fulfilling the agency’s proposed vision of a unified Human Foods Program.
USDA HHS Requests Public Comment on Healthy People 2030 Objectives
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is soliciting written public comments on the current Healthy People 2030 objectives and seeking proposals for additional new core, developmental, or research objectives or topics. There are no new objectives being proposed for comment. Any updated objectives and topics will go through further review and deliberation by Federal Healthy People topic area workgroups, the Federal Interagency Workgroup on Healthy People 2030, and other Federal subject matter experts. The deadline to submit written comments is November 20, 2023.
CSPI Publishes 2023 Competitive Foods in Schools Report
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) published the report, Smart Snacks Graded: 2023 Competitive Foods in Schools Report, that assesses the nutritional quality of snacks, entrées, and beverages available on the K–12 market that qualify to be sold as competitive foods. Researchers analyzed 623 Smart Snacks-compliant K–12 products to determine whether they would meet science-based standards for added sugars, low-calorie sweeteners of concern, and synthetic dyes. The report highlighted that USDA’s Smart Snacks standards are not aligned with the recommendations for added sugar in the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and recommended that snacks be limited to 5 grams and entrées be limited to 9 grams. The report found that half of all snacks were compliant with the 5 gram limit and all entrées were compliant with the 9 gram limit. Additional findings found that low-calorie sweeteners of concern were found in over one-third of beverages and 12% snacks and 12% of beverages contained at least one synthetic dye. CSPI suggests that USDA update the Smart Snacks standards to align with the latest science and expert recommendations.
On a related note, CSPI also published a report that outlines 10 policy recommendations to support healthy food retail and healthy food marketing in-stores and online. The report recommends policy actions to incorporate into the Farm Bill across six categories, including SNAP-authorized retailer requirements, research pilots, grant programs, nutrition education, voluntary rules, and recognition programs.
Survey Examines Consumer’s Perception of Ultra-Processed Foods
Ayana Bio, a plant cell technology company, announced the results of its consumer survey that examined consumers' attitudes, values, and willingness to consume ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and variables influencing the purchasing decisions of these foods. The survey found that 57% of U.S. adults believe that UPFs are bad for their health, yet 67% of adults would be willing to pay more for UPFs that contain more nutritious ingredients that deliver added health benefits, such as better cardiovascular function, improved brain function, better sleep, better immunity, or increased energy. The survey also found that taste, convenience, longer shelf life, and lower price were the top motivators driving UPF consumption.
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