Title: Message from the Chair
Author:
Section/SPIG: Food and Nutrition
Issue Date:
This is my first message as 2005 chair of the Food and Nutrition Section (FNS). I’d like to thank Jay Hirschman for his leadership to the Section in 2004. Also, I’d like to send many thanks to the Section members who served on the Executive Board, Section Council and as committee chairs and co-chairs. Your commitment and enthusiasm is what makes our Section one of the most dynamic in the Association. I am looking forward to working with the 2005 board, council, and committee and liaison volunteers as we move our Section agenda forward in the coming year.
2004 was a very productive year for the Food and Nutrition Section. Here is a summary of our major accomplishments:
Policies:
FNS assisted APHA in the review of 61 food and nutrition-related policy statements and identified those in need of updating or archiving. The next step in this process will be to identify policy needs and gaps so that policies of interest to our Section remain current and relevant.
The Section was the primary sponsor of two APHA policy statements in 2004: Policy Support for Nutrition Labeling in Fast Food and Other Chain Restaurants (2004-14) and Supporting the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (LB04-3).
Science:
FNS planned and presented 16 scientific sessions and four poster sessions at the Annual Meeting held in Washington, D.C. The call for abstracts resulted in the submission of 155 abstracts, including 28 from students. Attendance at our sessions has been fantastic! For the last three years, our Section has averaged over 100 attendees per session, which places us in the top five among all sections for average attendance. Many thanks to the program planning committee led by Barbara Polhamus (chair) and Barbara Laraia (co-chair) for their diligence in planning our program. Thanks also to the many members who reviewed abstracts.
Organization:
FNS created a Food Safety Committee to organize and energize Section and APHA activities to promote a safe food supply and safe food-handling procedures. This new committee will be chaired by Eileen Parish with assistance from Sara Fein as co-chair. One of the first tasks of this new committee will be to review all APHA Food and Nutrition food safety-related policies and make recommendations for updating and archiving.
The Food and Nutrition Section has elected to concentrate activities in four focus areas this year: 1) obesity; 2) collaboration with affiliates; 3) strategic responses and comments on reports and policies of professional significance; and 4) policy development. The Section will look into these areas using the strategic plan as a guiding document. Also, as a result of meeting with APHA Executive Director Georges Benjamin and APHA Executive Board members during the Annual Meeting, the Section will work with the Association to develop recommendations for Association consultation with sections on matters of public health significance. The Section is in the process of forming workgroups in each of the focus areas. If you would like to participate and lend you expertise in any of these areas, please send me an e-mail (<zen3@cdc.gov>) expressing your interest.
The exciting news is that as I write this message, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines are being released. The new, evidence-based guidelines were developed using the best available science and will be the focal point for nutrition policy, programs, education, research, food assistance and labeling for the next five years. The Food and Nutrition Section assisted the Association around the release by writing key messages that Dr. Benjamin and Association leaders could use in framing APHA’s response to media inquiries. A special thanks to Section members Sue Foerster and Yvonne Bronner for agreeing to be spokespersons for media inquiries.
In order for our Section to remain dynamic, we need as many members as possible to participate in Section activities. Please consider joining a committee or volunteering to participate in a one-time activity (such as reviewing abstracts). We will work with you to find appropriate tasks requiring as little or as much time as you can offer to the Section. If you’re unsure of where your particular expertise or talents might fit in, the list of Section committees on the Web site may help you make a decision. The Web site may be accessed at <http://www.aphafoodandnutrition.org>. Do not hesitate to contact me at <zen3@cdc.gov> or the committee chair if you are interested in participating.
Sincerely,
Charlene Sanders, MPH, RD
Chair, Food and Nutrition Section