Food & Nutrition

Donald Trump Nominates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Serve as HHS Secretary 

According to X, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Trump administration is expected to bring various health topics into the spotlight through the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement, particularly if RFK Jr. formally assumes the position and would likely play a key role in influencing food and nutrition policy under the administration. This week, Politico also reported that advocates for RFK Jr.’s MAHA movement are hosting a briefing with congressional health staffers on the MAHA’s policy vision, to be held on November 20, 2024.

Food Safety

USDA FSIS to Host Webinar on Food Donation Guideline

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is hosting a webinar to provide an overview of the agency’s May 2024 guideline, FSIS Guideline to Assist with the Donation of Eligible Meat, Poultry and Egg Products to Non-Profit Organizations, on November 18, 2024. The webinar will address FSIS policies related to the donation of meat, poultry, and egg products and discuss topics such as products eligible and ineligible for donation, labeling donated products, and general handling and labeling guidance for non-profit organizations that receive donated products. Registration is now open to attend.

Agriculture

USDA Invests to Support Antimicrobial Resistance Dashboard Tools

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced an investment of approximately $5 million towards eight awards to maintain, expand, and utilize previously developed antimicrobial resistance (AMR) dashboard tools. The awards intend to advance scientific knowledge and improve access to information around AMR in domesticated animals, including livestock and poultry. APHIS intends to use the dashboards to monitor trends in AMR patterns, detect emerging resistance profiles, and better understand relationships between antimicrobial use, animal health management practices, and AMR. The agency’s dashboard development efforts complement APHIS’ ongoing work on AMR to better understand antimicrobial use in the context of overall animal health.

Global

FAO Publishes State of Food and Agriculture 2024 Report

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) published the report, The State of Food and Agriculture 2024, that examined true cost accounting assessments of agrifood systems and the hidden costs associated with ‘unhealthy’ dietary patterns and non-communicable diseases for 156 countries. The report builds on the agency’s 2023 edition to provide an analysis on the range of costs and benefits associated with food production, distribution, and consumption. In the report, FAO identified 13 dietary risk factors, including insufficient intake of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables; excessive sodium consumption; and high intake of red and processed meats. The report also provided several recommendations, including to promote healthier diets by enacting policies that make nutritious food more affordable and accessible and reduce health-related hidden costs.

Fun Fact: Lemon trees can produce up to 600 pounds of lemons per year.