Title: Message from the Chair

Author:

Section/SPIG: Food and Nutrition

Issue Date:

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This is my first “Message” to all section members as chair for 2004. First, we should all recognize that the Food and Nutrition (FN) Section had a banner year in 2003. Here are a few of the accomplishments under the leadership of our 2003 section chair, Mary Story of the University of Minnesota, made with significant contributions by many members of the Section Council:

• Overweight Epidemic:

o Worked closely with APHA to develop 2003 National Public Health Week materials with the theme “Getting in Shape for the Future: Healthy Eating and Active Living” to address the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in our country.
o Developed a Child Overweight Web site as part of our FN Section Web site, <http://www.apha.foodandnutrition.org>. The purpose of the Child Overweight Web site is to provide information and links to resources on overweight in childhood and adolescence that can be used to promote awareness and education, improve public health practice, and strengthen public policy. The site is free to the public and can be assessed at <http://www.aphafoodandnutrition.org/overwt.html>.


• Policy: Provided primary sponsorship for two APHA policy statements: “Support for WIC and Child Nutrition Programs” and “Food Marketing and Advertising Directed at Children and Adolescents.” Both of these were adopted by the organization at the 2003 Annual Meeting and are now official policy. The full texts are available on the Web at: <http://www.apha.org/legislative/policy/2003/> [Food Marketing = 2003-17; WIC and Child Nutrition Programs = 2003-19].



• Science: Sponsored 18 highly popular scientific and poster sessions at the APHA Annual Meeting in San Francisco in November 2003. Even though APHA had provided larger rooms for our sessions based on the 2002 attendance, many FN Section-sponsored sessions were standing room only or overflowing into the hallway, especially those addressing the overweight & obesity epidemic. Sincere “thanks for a job well done” to the Section’s 2003 Program Planning co-chairs, Charlene Sanders (now our chair-elect) and Barbara Polhamus.



• Organization: Adopted an updated Section Procedures Manual to clarify responsibilities and facilitate efficient functioning of the Section leadership. The full text is available at: <http://www.aphafoodandnutrition.org/ProceduresManual.pdf>

A more complete list of recent FN Section accomplishments can be found on the Section Web site at: <http://www.aphafoodandnutrition.org/FN%20SUMMARY10_30.htm>. As a result of exceptional effort by our Web site Committee Co–chairs, Dr. Paul Cotton and Dr. Dena Goldberg, the FN Section site has expanded and matured into a valuable resource for all section members and other visitors. I encourage you to add the link to your Web browser’s “favorites” list (“bookmarks” for Netscape users), and visit whenever you need information on FN section activities or contact information for our Section leadership. The link is: <http://www.aphafoodandnutrition.org/>. While you are there, check out the link to the 2003 FN Section awards program, <http://www.aphafoodandnutrition.org/03aph.htm>. The Awards Committee, chaired by Judy Wilson, did a phenomenal job in all aspects of the event. Bravo! to all of the awardees, and to Judy and her committee for making the event very special.

Beyond our Section business, we are at an interesting juncture in the field of food and nutrition. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) confirms the continued worsening of the epidemic of overweight and obesity among both adults and children in the United States. Food manufacturers are increasingly producing and marketing a range of “carbohydrate reduced” foods in response to the popularity of the Atkins diet. The domestic and export beef markets were shocked by a positive test for the “mad cow disease” (bovine spongiform encephalopathy [BSE]) marker in one U.S. animal whose meat had entered the market. The report at the November 2003 APHA Annual Meeting of high mercury levels in certain fish drew immediate media attention, and combined with the “mad cow” incident and more recent reports of high dioxin levels in farm-raised salmon have left some consumers confused and concerned. These situations are a challenge to the nation and an ongoing reminder of the importance of food and nutrition to the health of the American public and the interdependence of food safety with environmental and infectious disease concerns.

The Healthy People 2010 (HP2010) mid-course review for the area of nutrition and overweight was held on Jan. 21, 2004. HHS and USDA staff prepared data tables, briefing materials and presentations for review by high-level officials in both departments during the review session. The nutrition chapter of HP2010 is available on the Web at <http://www.healthypeople.gov/Document/HTML/Volume2/19Nutrition.htm#_Toc490383126>. The mid-course review for this chapter focuses on two critical components of the HP2010 nutrition objectives: 1) overweight, and 2) fruit and vegetable consumption. The HP2010 Nutrition and Overweight Work Group is co-chaired by Dr. Van Hubbard of HHS/NIH and Dr. Nancy Crane of HHS/FDA. Key components of the mid-course review briefing materials are now available on the Web at <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/otheract/hpdata2010/fa19/nutrition.htm>.

In the arena of food and nutrition assistance programs serving children and our nation’s low-income populations, the Sept. 30, 2003 expiration date for the authorization for WIC and many of the Child Nutrition Programs came and went without either full reauthorization or disaster. The programs continue to function under continuing resolutions law, with WIC participation reaching an all-time high of 7.87 million women, infants and children in October 2003 (the most recent month for which data are available as of this writing). On Nov. 22, 2003, President Bush signed into law P.L. 108-134 (formerly H.R. 3232) extending expiring provisions of the Child Nutrition Programs through March 31, 2004. Some of the key controversial issues in the reauthorization debate have focused on how much, if any, new funding should be devoted to these programs (some have suggested adding $1 to 2 billion), and whether certification procedures for the National School Lunch Program should be modified. Although the Senate has held a series of hearings and a number of bills have been introduced (search Thomas, <http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas2.html>, for “child nutrition” or for “WIC”), we may not see a full four- to five-year reauthorization this year. Speculation in Washington is that the programs will simply be extended for a short while to avoid controversy close to the Presidential election. This situation will require ongoing attention as the organization seeks opportunities to educate Congress, the Administration, advocates and the public on the recommendations contained in the official APHA policy statement on WIC and Child Nutrition (APHA Policy Statement Number 2003-19). Further, having reached record WIC participation levels at a time of fiscal imbalance, we will need to closely monitor debate on the appropriations levels for WIC, a program funded through discretionary funds (i.e., it is not an entitlement like the Food Stamp Program and the National School Lunch Program).

The Food and Nutrition Section Council will meet at APHA headquarters on Feb. 20-21, 2004 to work on Section priorities and discuss issues with APHA Executive Director Dr. Georges Benjamin and other APHA staff. We have an exceptionally talented Council and encourage all section members to take an active role by volunteering to work on committees. Please see the listing of committee chairs at <http://www.aphafoodandnutrition.org/officers.htm>, and contact me or the chair of the committee you wish to work on. One great way to become involved is to participate in the planning and staffing of the section booth at the Nov. 6 – 10, 2004 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. This is an excellent opportunity to build your network with the top people in the field of public health nutrition. One last note—when you plan your travel for the Annual meeting this year, remember that we hold key section business meetings on the Saturday the meeting begins, i.e., this year on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004. Please plan your travel to attend the Nov. 6 business meetings.

Jay Hirschman, MPH, CNS
Chair, APHA Food and Nutrition Section