In early September, the Make America Healthy Again Commission, led by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., released a second report regarding health guidelines. The report boldly stated areas where the commission is challenging a multitude of areas to improve diets, lifestyles and guidelines for the American population with a specific interest in child health.
The report, which was initially released in May and touted more natural ingredients and healthier lifestyle choices, was updated in more detail across wide-ranging topics that surround the health of the U.S. population. The second report has all agricultural sectors hailing a major win. Keep in mind, the initial report wasn’t as friendly to ag.
The report directly targeted highly processed foods, medications and vaccines, chronic illnesses and poor nutrition as culprits in adolescent illnesses. The report called on agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Veterans Affairs, USDA, HHS and Food and Drug Administration, and the American Heart Association, to work together to formulate strategies to improving diets, physical activity, education and resources.
In the wide-sweeping report pushing a more natural approach to ingredients, foodstuffs and lifestyle choices, it contained language that promoted nutrient-rich proteins, vegetables, fruits and ingredients. It combined this with guidelines that aim to reduce medication usage, increase physical activity, increase industry efficiencies to reduce input costs and make foods more readily available to the public, and include environmental health strategies. Overall, the report was summed up as promoting nutrition over regulation.
After the report was released, meat organizations sounded off.
Meat Institute President and CEO Julia Anna Potts said, “Science has shown what American parents have known all along: nutrient dense meat and poultry products are essential to a well-balanced diet … For years, previous administrations have tried to discourage consumption of meat, primarily for reasons unrelated to nutrition, and as a result our most vulnerable populations—children, adolescent girls, nursing mothers and seniors—no longer consume enough protein and critical nutrients like iron and zinc.”
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane said of the report, “Millions of American families build a healthy plate around our product every week. We will continue working with President Trump’s administration to keep the supply chain moving and keep the safest, highest quality beef in the world on grocery store shelves.”
Leslee Oden, president and CEO of the National Turkey Federation, said, “Thanks to the hardworking men and women of the U.S. turkey industry, Americans can enjoy high-quality turkey that is lean, nutrient-dense, naturally low in fat and rich in high-quality protein, essential vitamins and minerals.”
National Pork Producers Council President Duane Stateler said, “We all want to help our children be healthy, yet there is still more work and understanding for this goal to best be accomplished. America’s pork producers need the administration’s continued partnership and receptiveness to agriculture and food industry education.”
National Chicken Council Spokesperson Tom Super said, “Combined with its nutritional value, positive health benefits, popularity, versatility and affordability, chicken is poised to be a key contributor in Making America Healthy Again and a key source of protein in the upcoming Dietary Guidelines.”
Going past meats, several commodity groups and farming associations also chimed in on the wins for agriculture in the report.
In an immediate follow-up to the report, USDA announced Sept. 10 that through a grant opportunity, USDA will invest up to $18 million in farm-to-school projects aimed at connecting child nutrition programs with local food procurement, agricultural education, school gardens and more.
“Yesterday at the MAHA Report announcement, alongside Secretary Kennedy, we announced one of the key actions USDA has already taken to contribute to making our children healthy again—Farm to School Grants,” said USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. “These initiatives are one of the best ways we can deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to children, while also strengthening local agriculture.”
For context, according to the latest available data, there were roughly 15 million breakfast meals served and 30 million lunches served in the 2021-22 school year. Each meal is required to have a protein source, two vegetable choices, two fruit choices, two milk choices and a grain.
All things considered, this is a great win for agriculture. Support from an administration has been needed for a long time. For the farming industry in a year that is proving to be one of the toughest on record, any win is a big win. A continuation of positive news will be needed as we go forward. In my opinion, for far too long, agriculture has been broadcast as unsafe, harmful to the environment, inefficient and so on. For the population to trust and recognize agricultural products as safe, healthy, nutritious and valuable, the consumer must understand our promise to provide them with the best available products. Now it’s our turn to follow through on that promise, and we all know we can bet on each other. — LOGAN IPSEN
