Brief History
The Section was first formed in 1917 as the Food and Drug Section. In 1930, it was renamed the Food, Drugs and Nutrition Section, and in 1932, it became the Food and Nutrition Section. Today, our Section has more than 1,300 members, including students, nutritionists, health behaviorists, physicians, food technologists, epidemiologists, health professionals, educators and researchers interested in nutrition and policy issues.
Mission & Goals
The mission of the Food and Nutrition Section is to lead and collaborate within the public health community to advance nutrition and health equity. We do this through three goals:
- Advocating for policies, practices and environmental changes
- Promoting and disseminating research and best practices
- Cultivating a skilled and inclusive workforce and recognizing achievement
Objectives
- Identify effective interventions, programs and practices for APHA advocacy
- Advocate for such effective interventions, programs/practices as policies and environmental changes
- Support aligned advocacy efforts among members, affiliates and partners
- Advance research/best practices that integrate community innovation and knowledge with public health practice
- Support cross sectional collaboration on research
- Facilitate dissemination of research and translation into practice
- Support federal funding for national, state, and local food and nutrition-related data collection and research
- Foster equitable education and professional development opportunities at all levels
- Provide and enhance mentorship opportunities for student and early career public health professionals
- Build section membership to strengthen the public health nutrition community
- Provide and create pathways to leadership in APHA
- Recognize the achievement of members work and leadership
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