White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health
President Biden announced that for the first time in over 50 years, the White House will host a Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health this September. The food industry plays an important role in hunger, nutrition and health with the grocery store as an accessible, convenient community-based destination for feeding assistance, preventive care, nutrition guidance, and nourishing, practical meal solutions. FMI and our members, food retailers, wholesalers and suppliers, all have an important role to play in this Conference. Here you will find information, messages and resources to help you take part.
Our Collective Report
To support our work with the White House Conference, FMI collected insights, stories, and recommendations from our members – food retailers, wholesalers, and suppliers. The FMI Collective Report puts forth preliminary food industry commitments, recommendations for government actions, and showcases examples from member nutrition, health and well-being initiatives and community outreach and engagement programs that demonstrate the important role the food industry plays in impacting hunger, nutrition, and health.
FMI Supporting Pillars
Through FMI’s work on the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) Food and Nutrition Security Task Force we are also working with Tufts University to develop recommendations for the White House Conference.
The White House has established Five Pillars to better define the scope of its Conference. FMI will focus on the following pillars:
1. Hunger
Improve food access and affordability
End hunger by making it easier for everyone — including urban, suburban, rural, and Tribal communities — to access and afford food.
Share Industry Examples Of:
SNAP / WIC / Online SNAP
Food Bank Donations
Community Partnerships
Food / Meal Delivery
2. Nutrition
Integrate nutrition and health
Prioritize the role of nutrition and food security in overall health, including disease prevention and management.
Share Industry Examples Of:
Retail Registered Dietitians
Healthy Eating Solutions
Shopping Guidance
MNT / Nutrition Counseling
3. Health
Empower consumers to make healthy choices
Enable all people to make informed healthy choices, increase access to healthy food, encourage healthy workplace and school policies, and invest in public messaging and education.
Share Industry Examples Of:
Family Meals Initiatives
Dietary Guidelines
MyPlate Strategic Partnerships
Food Safety Education
FMI Commitments to Address Hunger and Improve
Food Access, Nutrition, and Health
In the months leading up to the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health on September 28, FMI convened with members to outline a set of commitments the food industry could support that address food and nutrition insecurity and provide Americans with resources to make informed choices about their eating patterns and overall health. The commitments that follow align with the pillars the White House has identified as priorities for the Conference and beyond to improve food access, reduce diet-related disease, and empower consumers to make healthy choices. Though these commitments are focused on 2023, they serve as a starting point to launch future efforts and help achieve the goals of the Conference by 2030.
Commitment 1: Food Donations
FMI members will donate 2 billion meals in 2023 with the goal of increasing food donations to food banks and other organizations that support nourishing communities.
Commitment 2: Improve Food Access to Underserved Communities
FMI members will commit to robust investment in programs, initiatives, infrastructure enhancements, and partnerships to improve food availability in areas of limited food access. FMI members commit to 2023 benchmarking and annual reporting on these numbers.
Commitment 3: Leverage Federal Feeding and Food as Medicine Programs
FMI members will expand access to and leverage federal feeding programs and Food as Medicine programs in the food retail setting that include nutrient-dense foods. FMI members commit to 2023 benchmarking and annual reporting on these numbers.
Commitment 4: Promote Consumer Education and Transparency
FMI members across the food industry will share evidence-based messages and educational tools for consumers in 2023 to support healthy eating patterns that align with the Dietary Guidelines and federal nutrition guidance. FMI members commit to 100 million impressions/consumers in 2023.
Stories of Grocery Stores as Destinations for Health & Well-being
Food retailers, wholesalers and suppliers across the country have health and well-being programs for both employees and customers. These programs encourage health and well-being, support disease management, address food insecurity and encourage food safety best practices. Nearly all (84%) of food retailers surveyed by FMI report having established health and well-being initiatives for both employees and customers.
Latest News from FMI About The White House Conference
Questions?
For questions or more information, please contact FMI's Senior Director, Health and Well-being, Krystal Register.
Contact Krystal
Questions?
For questions or more information regarding federal legislation, please contact FMI’s Manager, Government Relations, Madalyn Farrar.
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