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Food & Nutrition
Registration Opens for Fifth 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Meeting
Registration is open to attend the fifth public meeting of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) on May 29, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and May 30, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST. During the meeting, the Committee will provide subcommittee updates, including presentations by each subcommittee, and deliberation by the full Committee regarding progress made since the fourth public meeting, including protocol development, evidence review and synthesis, draft conclusion statements, and plans for future Committee work. The final Committee public meeting is scheduled to be held on September 26, 2024.
USDA FNS Publishes WIC Food Package Final Rule
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published the final rule, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Revisions in the WIC Food Packages. The final rule updates the WIC food packages to align with recommendations from the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) and the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). The final changes provide more flexibility, variety, and choice to program participants, including increased cash-value benefit amounts for fruits and vegetables, expansion of whole grain options, reduced allowances of milk and juice, the addition of added sugar limits for yogurt, breakfast cereal, and plant-based milk alternatives, and the inclusion of more non-dairy options, among others. The agency also released a press release outlining several industry reactions to the final rule's publication and is hosting a stakeholder briefing on April 18, 2024.
OMB Completes Review of USDA FNS School Meals Final Rule
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has completed its review of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Revisions to Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The final rule would finalize long-term school nutrition standards to be consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). The proposed rule, released in February 2023, proposed changes to revise Child Nutrition Program meal patterns to include new added sugars standards and revised long-term milk and whole-grain standards, gradual sodium reduction limits, and measures to strengthen the Buy American provision, among others. According to the Fall 2023 Unified Agenda, the agency intends to formally publish this final rule later this month.
Dubost Podcast Episode Highlights Ultra-Processed Food Debate
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Melissa Joy Dobbins, host of the podcast, Sound Bites, released an episode on the ultra-processed foods debate that featured Dr. Joanne Slavin, former 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) member. During the podcast, Dr. Slavin highlighted the role of processed foods and food processing, consumer attitudes and beliefs around UPFs in the diet, the current state of UPF research, and the DGAC’s process for addressing such scientific questions, among other topics.
Analysis Examines Public Definition of 'Healthy' Food Within Sustainability Context
A manuscript published in Public Health Nutrition examined public perceptions on the definition of “healthy” foods and determined whether the public considers sustainability in the context of healthy eating. Researchers analyzed public comments submitted to FDA in 2016 and 2017 in response to an invitation for feedback on use of the term “healthy” on food labels. The analysis found that participants generally defined “healthy” foods and ingredients in a manner similar to how a healthy eating pattern is defined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs), and one in three participants considered “healthy” foods to embody specific attributes of sustainability, particularly environmental aspects. These participants also emphasized the healthfulness of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and other minimally processed foods and the need to limit added sugars, sodium, saturated and trans fats, and other ingredients added during processing.
Study Examines UPF Labels in Tandem with High in Sugar Nutrition Labels
A study published in Nutrients examined public perceptions of an ultra-processed food label and a “high in sugar” label. Researchers found that foods that were labeled as “ultra-processed” and “high in sugar” led participants to think more about the risks of eating the product, and discouraged them from wanting to buy the product more than the “ultra-processed” label alone. The study suggested that existing evidence indicates that front-of-package (FOP) labels can be an effective strategy to reduce consumption of unhealthful products and suggests that “ultra-processed” labels may work in tandem with nutrient labels by discouraging the consumption of UPFs.
Study Examines Association Between UPF Intake and Glaucoma Incidence Risk
A study published in Nutrients examined the relationship between ultra-processed food (UPF) intake and glaucoma incidence risk. Researchers found that participants with a greater UPF consumption had a higher risk of developing glaucoma and emphasized the importance of monitoring and limiting the consumption of UPFs to prevent such risk. The study encouraged the adherence to an unprocessed or minimally processed food pattern, given the increasing trend of UPF consumption globally and suggested that implementing measures such as front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labeling, taxation on unhealthy foods, restrictions on advertising, and promotion of healthier options can further discourage UPF consumption.
On a related note, a study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology examined the long-term risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) associated with UPF consumption. Researchers found that higher consumption of UPF was associated with an increased risk of developing IBS, suggesting that avoiding or lowering UPF consumption may serve as an effective strategy to reduce such risk.
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