The White House in America has announced conference pillars and consultation dates ahead of President Biden’s Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health in September.
Consultations, called listening sessions, will be held from June 1st and will include breakout sessions discussing how to improve food access and affordability, integrate nutrition and health, help all consumers make healthy choices, support physical activity, and improve research into nutrition and food security.
President Biden has called for policy ideas, saying, “It really matters, too many families don’t know where they are going to get their next meal.
“There are too many empty chairs around the kitchen table because a loved one was taken by heart disease diabetes, or other diet oriented diseases which are some of the leading causes of death in our country.
“The total of these diseases are not distributed equally. It’s higher in certain racial and ethnic groups including black and Hispanics and Native Americans, families with low incomes, and those living in rural areas.
“I’m committed to taking bold steps. I want your ideas”
“The Covid-19 pandemic was a stark reminder of the need for urgent, sustained action as more Americans experienced hunger. We saw diet related diseases heighten the risk of severe Covid.
“This time we make real change. I’m committed to taking bold steps that are going to help end hunger and enable everyone to have access to affordable, healthy food and safe places to be physically active.
“We can’t do this alone. I want your ideas.”
The Biden-Harris Administration has set a goal of ending hunger and increasing healthy eating and physical activity in the US by 2030.
The conference is designed to launch a plan for this, having brought together anti-hunger and nutrition advocates; food companies; the health care community; local, state, territorial and Tribal governments and people with lived experiences.
“It is high time we prioritise nutrition more for the sake of saving lives”
The first White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health in 1969 influenced the country’s food policy agenda for 50 years. The President wants to create the same impact with this conference.
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said, “Our understanding of science and social determinants that affect nutrition and physical activity has evolved in the past five decades, and it is high time we prioritise nutrition more for the sake of saving lives.
“Strengthening access to affordable and healthy food cuts down on chronic disease and helps us advance health equity for all Americans.”
Ideas to be discussed in the listening sessions include expanding eligibility for and participation in food assistance programs and improving transport to places where food is available.
They will also look at the role of nutrition and food security in health, improving access to healthy food at work and in schools, and improving nutrition metrics on behalf of consumers.
