The association calls for a focus on fruit and vegetable access to improve health
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) has issued a statement in response to a White House report published by the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission.
In the statement, IFPA said it appreciated president Donald Trump’s commitment to addressing the ”diet-related health crisis” in the US through the MAHA Commission.
”Today’s child-focused report recognises that there is work to do to improve the nutritional quality of our food system,” the association said.
”We also appreciate the report’s specific acknowledgement of the importance of fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops to Americans and the farm economy that feeds them.”
Evidence-based interventions
IFPA pointed out that nine in ten Americans were not meeting fruit and vegetable consumption targets and up to half of children under age five were not consuming a vegetable daily.
As a result, the Commission needs to focus on evidence-based interventions that will increase fruit and vegetable consumption and support policies that ensure the prosperity of US growers who dutifully provide an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables for Americans every day, it urged.
“As the Commission moves on developing policy, we stand by our MAHA recommendations released earlier this year and look forward to opportunities for the fresh produce sector to engage in shaping policies that will improve health outcomes for all Americans,” IFPA continued.
”While the fresh sector has long called for improvements to nutrition policy, we also encourage the Commission to recognise where there has been success.
”As acknowledged in the report, the WIC programme has proven effective in improving health outcomes, largely due to its fruit and vegetable benefits,” it noted.
”Additionally, the National School Lunch Program provides a daily fruit and vegetable to the 30mn students who participate and rely on this meal daily.
”As a result, school lunch is the healthiest meal most children – regardless of socio-economic status – will eat during their day.”
Questionable assertions
IFPA said that the report’s focus on the practices and scale of food production, while inclusive of many opinions, included some ”questionable assertions”.
Some of these were contrary to federal regulatory findings, with conflicting claims that could confuse Americans about the safety of their food.
”In its following report, we hope the Commission will collaborate more closely with farmers and producers to make recommendations that ensure the United States remains the world’s gold standard of risk-based, data-driven scientific decision-making, founded on transparency, public-private research and innovation,” IFPA said.
“Diet-related diseases are a crisis we can – and must – address together. By expanding access to and consumption of fruits and vegetables, supporting evidence-based nutrition policies, and supporting and empowering growers, we can advance public health in meaningful, lasting ways.
”The American produce industry stands ready to actively partner with the Trump administration on the president’s vision for building a healthier nation,” it concluded.
