Food & Nutrition

White House Announces New Private Sector Commitments

The Biden Administration hosted a launch event to announce 141 new private sector commitments as part of the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities. The $1.7 billion in new commitments build on the Administration's $8 billion in commitments announced at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022 and complements the federal actions outlined within the National Strategy. During the event, federal leaders highlighted the Administration's continued progress and efforts to achieve its goal to end hunger and increase healthy eating and physical activity by 2030, emphasizing the need to finance, expand, and support federal nutrition programs as key priorities in achieving this goal. The White House also released a list of Administrative actions taken by FDA, USDA, and HHS since the launch of the White House Challenge in March 2023.

Coalition Calls for Nutrition and Allergen Labeling on Alcoholic Beverages

​​A coalition of consumer and health groups sent a letter urging Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to ensure that the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) uphold its November 17, 2022, agreement to issue three proposed rulemakings requiring standardized nutrient content, alcohol content, ingredient, and allergen labeling on beer, wine, and distilled spirits products. In the letter, the coalition emphasized the importance of mandatory alcohol labeling to protect the health and safety of consumers. The coalition, comprised of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Food Allergy Research & Education, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Consumer Federation of America, and the National Consumers League, requested these rulemakings be published by June 2024, following previous announcements by the Department to publish the rulemakings before the end of 2023. This letter comes as TTB hosts a series of listening sessions on the labeling of wine, distilled spirits, and malt beverages to disclose per-serving alcohol and nutritional information, major food allergens, and ingredients. 

Literature Review Examines State of Food is Medicine in the U.S. 

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology examined the current knowledge, rationale, existing interventions, scientific evidence, ongoing healthcare and policy activities, and gaps in the field of food is medicine (FIM) in the U.S. The evidence review suggests that FIM programs represent an effective healthcare solution in the face of health, economic, and equity impacts from poor nutrition and food insecurity. National polling also revealed consumer interest in greater attention to diet-related diseases, effective medical nutrition education for providers, and coverage of FIM services in health care. Researchers recommend increased collaboration among researchers, clinicians, healthcare systems, community-based organizations, the private sector, and policymakers to better assess and scale FIM interventions within the healthcare system. 

Study Suggests UPF Consumption Increases Risk of Adverse Health Outcomes

A study published in the British Medical Journal examined existing evidence of the associations between exposure to ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and adverse health outcomes. Researchers suggested that greater exposure to UPFs, as defined by the NOVA classification system, is associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes. Researchers found 'convincing evidence' to suggest that higher UPF intake is associated with a 50% increased risk of cardiovascular disease-related death, a 48%-53% higher risk of anxiety and common mental disorders, and a 12% greater risk of type 2 diabetes. The study also found 'highly suggestive evidence' to suggest that diets high in UPFs are associated with a 21% greater all-cause mortality risk, a 40%-66% higher risk of heart disease-related death, obesity, type 2 diabetes and sleep problems, and a 22% increased risk of depression.

Food Safety

FDA Announces PFAS Used in Food Packaging No Longer Being Sold in the U.S.

FDA announced that grease-proofing materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are no longer being sold by manufacturers for food contact use in the U.S. market. This announcement marks the completion of the agency's 2020 voluntary commitment by manufacturers to not sell food contact substances containing certain PFAS intended for food contact use, including fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, and take-out paperboard containers. FDA also confirmed that other manufacturers have voluntarily stopped sales of other food contact substances which contain different types of PFAS intended for use as grease-proofing agents. As part of the agency's commitment to food chemical safety and its reevaluation of chemicals authorized for use in food, FDA intends to continue to conduct post-market safety evaluations to ensure that its risk determinations continue to be accurate and based on the current science.

New York Introduces Bills to Ban Red Dye 3 and Require Food Ingredient Labeling 

The New York State legislature introduced a bill that would prohibit the manufacture, sale, and distribution of food products that contain red dye 3 in the state, effective January 1, 2026. The legislature also introduced a bill that would require foods and beverages that contain brominated vegetable oil (BVO), potassium bromate, propylparaben, red dye 3, and titanium dioxide to be clearly marked with an ingredient label. The state commissioner would be required to establish regulations regarding the content and placement of the label. New York introduced similar legislation in January 2024, and in the Assembly and Senate in March and April 2023, which would prohibit the manufacture, sale, and distribution of food products that contain brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, red dye 3, and titanium dioxide in the state, effective January 1, 2025. These bills have yet to pass either chamber. 

On a related note, Kentucky introduced a resolution urging FDA to ban U.S. food manufacturers from producing or selling food containing ingredients prohibited in other countries, such as red dye 3 and BVO, and to enforce the reformulation of such products.

Agriculture

USDA Invests to Support Local and Regional Food Systems Development

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the availability of $26 million in funds for the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) to help local and regional food entities develop, coordinate, and expand producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional food markets, and local food enterprises. This investment serves to support and fund projects within the Farmers Market Promotion Program, Local Food Promotion Program, and the Regional Food System Partnerships to increase the availability of locally grown food and develop new markets for local and regional food system stakeholders, farmers markets, and food hubs. USDA AMS also released new local and regional food systems resources to support these efforts. The agency is accepting applications for the grant program until May 14, 2024.

Global

UK Issues Call for Evidence on Role of UPFs and HFSS Foods in the Diet 

The UK House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee published a call for written evidence considering the role of foods, including ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and foods high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS), in a healthy diet and its influence on health outcomes. The Committee will assess how shifts in behaviors and trends have impacted obesity, how government policies have influenced these shifts, and the role of the industry and the wider public in the public health landscape. The Committee is seeking written submissions addressing a variety of topics in relation to food, diet, and obesity, including the definition and assessment of UPF and HFSS foods, along with considerations on consumer recognition, labeling, packaging, advertising, cost, availability, and health implications. The Committee is accepting written comments until April 8, 2024. 

France Issues Decree to Ban Meat-Related Labeling Terms on Plant-Based Foods

The French government issued a decree that will ban the use of meat-related labeling terms for plant-based meat alternative products produced in the country. The decree prohibits the use of 21 meat-related terms used to describe, market, or promote plant-based products, including terms such as steak, ham, cutlet, or escalope. The decree also includes a list of animal products that may contain plant proteins as part of their ingredients but do not replace animal products and contain limited amounts of plant proteins, including terms such as bacon, chorizo, cordon bleu, cooked ham, salami, and sausage. This announcement comes as the country introduced a draft decree to ban these meat-related labeling terms on plant-based products in September 2023.

FAO Publishes Report on Food Systems-Based Dietary Guidelines Methodology 

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) published the report, Food Systems-Based Dietary Guidelines, that provides an overview of the food systems-based dietary guidelines (FSBDGs) methodology developed by the agency. The FSBDGs methodology is an iterative process of six stages with processes considered when planning the development, implementation, and evaluation of national FSBDGs. This methodology addresses health and nutritional priorities to promote healthy diets by considering socio-cultural, economic, and environmental sustainability. In the report, FAO notes that the new FSBDGs methodology will be published in a manual comprising eight sequential modules to be released during 2024 and will be accompanied by a series of webinars to facilitate the uptake of the FSBDGs methodology.

Fun Fact: Jackfruit is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world.