Food & Nutrition

Alliance for a Stronger FDA Hosts Discussion with Jim Jones on HFP Priorities

This week, the Alliance for a Stronger FDA hosted a webinar that featured Jim Jones, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, who discussed his priorities and planned initiatives at the agency. Jones reiterated his commitment to the agency’s three priority areas, including preventing foodborne illness, decreasing diet-related chronic disease through improved nutrition, and enhancing chemical safety in the food supply. Jones shared that FDA is aiming to advance several high-priority items within the coming months, including the agency's front-of-pack labeling proposal and finalizing updated regulations on the nutrient content claim “healthy.” Additionally, Jones revealed that the agency is “very close” to submitting its final reorganization proposal for a unified Human Foods Program (HFP) to HHS for review, which is anticipated to be fully released by June 2024.

FTC Warns Food Industry on Influencer Promotion of Sugar-Containing Products

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued warning letters to two trade associations and 12 registered dietitians and other online health influencers warning them about the lack of adequate disclosures in their Instagram and TikTok posts promoting the safety of the artificial sweetener aspartame or the consumption of sugar-containing products. In the warning letters, FTC determined that the associations may have violated the FTC Act by failing to adequately disclose that the influencers were hired to promote the safety of aspartame or the consumption of sugar-containing products. These warnings follow updated FTC guidelines, published in June 2023, requiring influencers to prominently disclose advertisements and paid social media posts as part of the agency’s continued monitoring of influencer marketing.

BPC Publishes Food is Medicine Policy Recommendations Report 

The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) hosted a launch event for the release of the Center's latest Food is Medicine (FIM) report, Healthy Eating Rx: Improving Nutrition Through Health Care. The report outlines ten recommendations to improve nutrition education and scale evidence-based FIM interventions in the U.S. These recommendations address training healthcare professionals and educating patients and the public about nutrition, as well as engaging healthcare professionals in the delivery of interventions to spur the consumption of 'healthy' food. Throughout the launch event, panel members suggested measures to scale up FIM efforts through universal screening for food insecurity, establishing more nutrition education in the K-12 curriculum, and continuing to invest in FIM interventions. The report was developed by the BPC FIM Working Group, convened in March 2023.

Study Suggests Select UPF Subgroups Associated with Lower Risk of Morbidity

A study published in The Lancet Regional Health examined the relationship between the intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and the risk of multimorbidity of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. The study found that higher UPF consumption, according to the NOVA classification system, was associated with an increased risk of multimorbidity of cancer and cardiometabolic diseases. Researchers also found that among UPF subgroups, higher intakes of artificially and sugar-sweetened beverages and animal-based products were associated with a higher risk of multimorbidity. In contrast, the consumption of ultra-processed breads and cereals were associated with lower risk, and sweets and desserts, savory snacks, plant-based alternatives, ready-to-eat/heat, and mixed dishes were not associated with the risk of multimorbidity.

Senate Reintroduces Real Marketing Edible Artificials Truthfully (MEAT) Act 

Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) reintroduced the Real Marketing Edible Artificials Truthfully (MEAT) Act. The bill would clarify the definition of beef and pork by requiring alternative protein products to clearly display the word “imitation” on its packaging. This legislation would reinforce the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act’s (FDCA) misbranding provisions, stating that any imitation meat food product, beef or beef product, or pork or pork product is misbranded unless its label has the word “imitation” before or after the name of the food. The imitation product must also include a statement clearly indicating that it is not derived from and does not contain meat.

Agriculture

USDA Invests to Improve Dietary Health and Access to Fruits and Vegetables 

USDA announced an investment of $52 million to improve dietary health and access to fresh fruits and vegetables across three National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) competitive grant programs. This investment supports efforts in programs that make up the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), including the Nutrition Incentive Program, the Produce Prescription Program, and the Nutrition Incentive Program Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation and Information (NTAE) Centers Program. The awarded projects will help increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by providing incentives at the point of purchase for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants, increase procurement and consumption of fruits and vegetables, and offer training, technical assistance, evaluation, and informational support services for GusNIP projects.

Global

EU Funds Mediterranean Diet Project to Promote Minimally Processed Foods 

The PRIMA Foundation, an EU program for research and innovation solutions, launched the MEDIET4ALL project to promote the Mediterranean diet as a ‘healthy, active lifestyle.’ This EU-funded project will work with ten partners across eight countries, bringing together experts from Europe and Northern Africa to promote the widespread adoption of a whole grain-, fish-, and vegetable-rich diet. The project will conduct online surveys to examine Euro-Mediterranean consumers and their adherence to the Mediterranean diet to design programs and encourage the consumption of the diet. The project will also raise awareness for the negative health impact of ultra-processed foods and intends to support the transition from an ‘ultra-processed foods and drinks culture’ to unprocessed or minimally processed foods.

EFSA Signs Joint Commitment to WHO One Health Agenda 

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a joint statement with other EU environment, public health, and food safety agencies to commit to supporting the World Health Organization (WHO) One Health agenda. The five EU agencies emphasized four priorities for action: 1) improving One Health data availability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability, 2) mainstreaming the One Health approach in EU scientific advice and risk assessment, 3) establishing coordination mechanisms across human, animal, and environmental sectors by aligning surveillance and early warning systems in the EU with the One Health framework, and 4) strengthening One Health educational and training programs.

Fun Fact: The term "umami" refers to the fifth basic taste, after sweet, salty, sour, and bitter.