Food & Nutrition

FDA Hosts Science Advisory Board Committee Public Meeting

FDA hosted a public advisory committee meeting of the Science Board to the FDA to receive an update from the New Alternative Methods subcommittee and feature remarks by FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones on the agency’s reorganization of a unified Human Foods Program (HFP). Jim Jones provided an overview of the reorganization structure and shared that FDA is in the process of establishing the Human Foods Advisory Committee (HFAC). This recommendation to reinstate the HFAC was presented in the 2022 HFP external evaluation conducted by the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA. The HFAC will serve to provide advice to FDA on emerging issues in food safety, nutrition, emerging and innovative food technology, and other foods-related issues. Once a formal charter is approved, the agency will formally announce the establishment of the new HFAC, begin the recruiting process, and host the first HFAC meeting in early 2026. 

Study Examines UPF Intake and BMI Change in Children and Adolescents

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) intake and body mass index (BMI) change in U.S. children and adolescents. The study found that higher UPF intake, according to the NOVA classification system, was associated with an increase in BMI. The association was specifically linked to higher intakes of ultra-processed breakfast cereals, savory snacks, and ready-to-eat/heat foods such as pizza, burgers, and sandwiches. The study called for public health efforts to address the high UPF consumption for obesity and obesity-related chronic disease prevention, citing that improving the nutritional quality of certain food items is needed to ensure the availability of 'healthful' food choices to children and adolescents.

Food Safety

Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA Hosts Meeting on Traceability Final Rule 

The Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA held a public meeting on FDA’s final rule, Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods, to review key discussions from an industry roundtable series and hear oral comments from the public. The meeting featured opening remarks by FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones, a panel discussion on implementation with representatives from the food industry, and a stakeholder public comment period. Jim Jones reiterated that the Foundation-led roundtables are critical to increasing FDA’s understanding of the challenges different sectors of the food industry have encountered as they work to meet the rule’s requirements. Representatives across the food supply chain also expressed barriers to meeting the rule’s requirements and highlighted the need for more time and resources from the agency. The Foundation is accepting written public comments until October 25, 2024.

Agriculture

USDA Invests to Support Resiliency in U.S. Dairy Industry

USDA announced an investment of $11.04 million in funding to support dairy businesses and producers under the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI) grant program. The initiatives will support small and mid-sized dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products. To date, the DBI grant program has invested over $64 million into more than 600 projects to support dairy supply chain resiliency and expand economic growth.

Global

UK Issues Consultation on Draft Guidance for Allergens in Non-Prepacked Foods 

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued a public consultation to seek stakeholder comment on a draft guidance for industry regarding best practices for providing allergen information on non-prepackaged foods. The draft guidance would apply to food business operators, retailers, caterers, and other businesses supplying non-prepackaged foods in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In the draft guidance, examples of non-prepacked foods include those served in cafes and restaurants, loose meat and cheese at a deli counter, or made-to-order in a coffee shop. At the end of the consultation period, FSA will consider responses received and publish the responses, prior to publishing the best practice final guidance in early 2025. The public consultation is open until November 27, 2024.

UK Food Standards Agency to Launch Cell-Cultured Foods Safety Program

The United Kingdom (UK) Food Standards Agency (FSA), in collaboration with the Food Standards Scotland (FSS), was awarded £1.6 million in funding to launch a sandbox program to investigate the safety of cell-cultured foods. The sandbox program will help FSA and FSS guide industry on how to demonstrate the safety of these products, in which the agencies will recruit a team to gather scientific evidence on cell-cultured foods and the technology used for their production. The evidence will be used to inform recommendations and address questions before these products are authorized to enter the UK market. To date, no cell-cultured foods are approved for human consumption in the UK.

Study Examines UK UPF Intake in Toddlerhood and Mid-Childhood

A study published in the European Journal of Nutrition examined ultra-processed food (UPF) intake in toddlerhood and mid-childhood in the UK. The study found that UPF accounted for 47% of total energy in toddlerhood and 59% in mid-childhood, with UPF intake in toddlerhood found to be predictive of mid-childhood intake. They also found that higher UPF intake was associated with higher free sugar and sodium intakes. In toddlerhood, the UPFs consumed were those typically marketed as 'healthy' options, including flavored yogurts and higher-fiber breakfast cereals, whereas in mid-childhood, puddings and sweet cereal products and white breads were most common. Researchers suggest that integrated policies are needed to provide children with diets with fewer UPFs.

Fun Fact: A single nectarine provides approximately 13% of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C.