The United States is making significant strides in addressing critical food-related issues, from improving access to nutritious meals to reducing food loss and waste. In a recent event hosted by Food Tank, Germeshausen Foundation, and Oatly, U.S. Congressmembers and food policy experts discussed the progress made and the opportunities for further improvement.
Empowering Communities, Ending Hunger
Addressing the Humanitarian Crisis of Food Insecurity
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one in eight Americans are food insecure, a staggering statistic that highlights the urgent need for action. U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley emphasizes the moral imperative to address this crisis, stating, "No one should know hunger. It is a humanitarian crisis, it is a moral failing, and it is a policy choice." Policymakers are now taking significant steps to tackle this issue head-on.
Implementing Transformative Initiatives
Since the release of the White House's National Strategy to end hunger, reduce diet-related diseases, and improve public health by 2030, remarkable progress has been made. Catherine Oakar, Special Assistant to the President for Community Public Health and Disparities at the White House, declares, "A movement has started." One of the key achievements is the implementation of the SUN Bucks program, a permanent initiative that provides families with eligible school-aged children 0 per child to purchase groceries during the summer months when school is not in session. This program, Oakar says, is "a huge accomplishment" in ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food.
Investing in School Meals and Nutrition Standards
The U.S. government has also made "incredible, unprecedented investment" in school meals, which feed 30 million children, according to Alberto Gonzalez, Jr., Senior Policy Advisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Gonzalez explains that updated nutrition standards help to ensure that young eaters can access healthy food during the academic year, a critical step in promoting overall well-being and addressing diet-related diseases.
Empowering Eaters to Demand Change
U.S. Representative Jim McGovern emphasizes the importance of eaters taking an active role in driving change. He urges, "We need to be impatient. We need to be pushing every lever and every which way." By demanding accountability and advocating for further improvements, eaters can play a pivotal role in shaping a more equitable and nourishing food system.
Reducing Food Loss and Waste: A Moral Imperative
The Staggering Scale of Food Waste
The USDA reports that roughly one-third of food produced in the United States goes uneaten, a staggering statistic that U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree calls "immoral and unconscionable" when so many individuals and families face food insecurity. This alarming trend highlights the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address food loss and waste.
Charting a Path Forward
In response to this challenge, the White House has released the National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics, as explained by Jean Buzby, Food Loss and Waste Liaison at the USDA Office of the Chief Economist. Buzby emphasizes that this strategy serves as a "roadmap for the EPA, USDA, and FDA, to pull together and meet many commitments," underscoring the importance of interagency collaboration in tackling this multifaceted issue.
Holistic Approaches to Nourishing Communities
Admiral Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, emphasizes the need for a holistic approach that considers the well-being of individuals, families, and communities as a whole. She states, "We do have to take this holistic approach, looking at the whole person, the whole family, the community, and our nation as a whole." By adopting this comprehensive perspective, policymakers and stakeholders can develop more effective and sustainable solutions to address the interconnected challenges of food access, nutrition, and waste.
