An exciting and innovative program for the Food and Nutrition Section has been planned for this year’s Annual Meeting.  We are supporting the new Physical Activity SPIG (Special Primary Interest Group) with three devoted sessions covering creative interventions to increase physical activity, one of which highlights advances in new technologies.

There will also be three sessions jointly shared with the Environment Section: “MRSA and antibiotic use in animal agriculture: An emerging health threat down on the farm;” “Getting from Here to There: Planning and Building Healthier, More Sustainable Food (and Water) Systems;” and “Programs and Evaluation of Community Based Participatory Projects to Address Disparities in Food Access.”  We expect these dynamic sessions to draw a wide audience.

In addition, there are two invited sessions that should be of particular interest this year.  David Wallinga, MD, MPA, director of the Food and Health Program at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, has assembled a session to address hormones in the food and water supply, linking presentation content to the theme of the meeting, water and public health.  James Krieger, MD, MPH, of King County Public Health and University of Washington Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, brings together a session presenting results from both sides of the nation on evaluation of menu labeling laws.

Registration for the meeting opened June 1 (see announcement below).  We hope you’ll attend the meeting not only to gain insights to the latest public health nutrition and physical activity initiatives, research, and policy action, but also to make new professional connections.  Even when the economy and budgets are down, it is important to keep ties to the field.  You never know, you may make a new contact that could expand your horizons!

For more information, contact Alyssa Ghirardelli, alyssa.ghirardelli@cdph.ca.gov, (916) 449-5342.