Food & Nutrition

2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Hosts Final Public Meeting

The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) held its seventh and final public meeting to discuss the Committee’s draft Scientific Report and present draft advice and future directions that will be submitted to HHS and USDA to inform the development of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. During the meeting, the DGAC explored a proposal to consolidate the three dietary patterns into a single, flexible Healthy U.S.-Style Dietary Pattern and recommended the consumption of more plant-based and nutrient-dense foods within a dietary pattern. The DGAC intends to finalize and submit its Scientific Report to the Departments as early as October 31, 2024. Once USDA and HHS publish the Scientific Report online, a new public comment opportunity will open to submit feedback to the Departments.

FDA Guidance on Action Levels for Lead in Processed Food at OMB for Review

The FDA guidance, Action Levels for Lead in Processed Food Intended for Babies and Young Children, has been sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Once OMB completes its review of the guidance, the time it takes for publication varies and may be released ranging from several days, weeks, or in extreme cases, even months. According to the agency’s list of priority draft and final guidance topics under development, the guidance is anticipated for release by the end of December 2024. FDA released the draft guidance, Action Levels for Lead in Food Intended for Babies and Young Children, in January 2023. The establishment of these draft action levels are part of the agency’s Closer to Zero Action Plan.

Food Safety

FDA Launches Environmental Microbiological Study to Enhance Food Safety

FDA, in partnership with Purdue University and members of the produce industry, announced the launch of a new, multi-year study on Salmonella in the Southwest Indiana agricultural region. The study will focus on assessing risks related to how Salmonella is distributed and survives in the environment to identify and implement mitigation strategies. The study was initiated following Salmonella outbreaks linked to cantaloupe in the region and is intended to help FDA better understand the source of pathogens, their persistence, and the transfer through the environment to inform food safety practices.

Agriculture

USDA Invests in NIFA Nutrition Programs to Support Food and Nutrition Security

USDA announced an investment of $46 million in projects to address food and nutrition insecurity across the agency’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP) and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP). The investment intends to support small-production agriculture, increase food access in low-income communities, increase community engagement in planning for food security solutions, and bridge gaps in local food systems.

Global

UK Parliament Publishes Report Urging Governmental Food System Reform

The UK Parliament House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee published a report requesting the development of a new, long-term strategy to reform the country's food system and reduce obesity and diet-related diseases. The report found several key findings, including that 1) ‘unhealthy’ diets are the primary driver of obesity, with people in all income groups failing to meet dietary recommendations, and 2) the food industry has strong incentives to produce profitable ‘unhealthy’ products and mandatory efforts to promote healthier food must be introduced. The Committee also outlined several government key actions, requesting to commission research to examine the links between ultra-processed foods and adverse health outcomes, ban the advertising of less healthy food across all media by the end of the Parliament, and introduce a salt and sugar reformulation tax on food manufacturers, among others. 

Study Examines Ultra-Processed Warning Labels on Consumer Product Perception 

A study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity examined the impact of the addition of an ultra-processed warning label to existing nutrient warning labels on Brazilian consumers’ product perceptions and behavioral intentions. The study suggested that adding ultra-processed warning labels to nutrient warning labels may help consumers more easily identify whether a product is ultra-processed, but may not influence consumers’ product perceptions and behavioral intentions beyond the influence already exerted by nutrient labels. Researchers recommended that future research examine the effects of ultra-processed warning labels when applied to products that do not require nutrient labels, as well as the benefits of alternative labeling approaches signaling possible health effects of ultra-processed food consumption.

Fun Fact: Mangoes are the most widely consumed fruit in the world.