Us Government Agencies: Supporting Plant-Based Diets

The US government is facing an ever-growing epidemic of preventable diet-related chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. These diseases are leading causes of death and disability in the US. As a result, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working to empower consumers to build nutritious diets that support health and wellness. The FDA's nutrition initiatives include providing information to help consumers make informed food choices and encouraging the food industry to make products healthier.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has also been formulating new dietary guidelines, with an advisory panel recommending an increase in plant-based diets. The USDA's Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, made up of federally appointed health experts, recommended an increase in plant-based diets based on nutritional and sustainability concerns.

In addition, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is actively working to reduce its consumption of natural resources and increase its service of local food items. The VHA provides resources and tips on how individuals can improve their home kitchen sustainability through local food purchasing and cooking.

The FDA encourages the food industry to make food healthier

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking several steps to encourage the food industry to make food healthier.

Firstly, the FDA is committed to providing consumers with the information and tools they need to make healthy food choices. This includes initiatives such as food labelling, which empowers consumers to make informed choices about the food they eat. The FDA has also developed a standardized front-of-package labelling system and is working on finalizing guidance about Dietary Guidance Statements on food packages to help consumers quickly and easily identify healthy options. In addition, the FDA has updated the Nutrition Facts label and implemented calorie labelling on certain menus and menu boards to make nutritional information more accessible.

Secondly, the FDA is working to promote a healthier food supply by encouraging the industry to reduce sodium levels in a wide variety of processed, packaged, and prepared foods. This is part of an ongoing effort to support the gradual reduction of sodium across the food supply.

Thirdly, the FDA recognizes the importance of education and communication in helping consumers make healthier choices. They are working to educate consumers and health educators on how to interpret and use nutrition labelling information. The FDA also provides timely and informative communications to stakeholders and engages with them regularly to understand their perspectives and work towards shared goals.

Furthermore, the FDA is addressing the issue of diet-related chronic diseases, which disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority groups, those with lower socioeconomic status, those living in rural areas, and other underserved communities. By partnering with other federal agencies, the FDA aims to provide consumers with the information and resources they need to improve their health and reduce the burden of these chronic diseases.

Finally, the FDA is committed to ensuring the safety and nutritional soundness of critical foods such as infant formula, which is the sole source of nutrition for many individuals.

Overall, the FDA's initiatives demonstrate their dedication to empowering consumers to build nutritious diets and supporting the food industry in making healthier products.

The USDA's Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee recommended an increase in plant-based diets

The USDAs Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has recommended an increase in plant-based diets. The USDA, alongside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is responsible for developing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are updated every five years. The guidelines are intended to be evidence-based and provide food-based recommendations to help prevent diet-related chronic diseases and promote overall health. They are also used to inform national nutrition programs, standards, and education, as well as provide resources for health professionals and the public.

The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has placed a particular focus on health equity, ensuring that factors such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and culture are considered. This means that the guidelines will be tailored to serve the needs of diverse populations and promote equitable access to healthy and nutritious food. The Committee has also expanded the scope of its evidence review beyond recommended amounts and types of foods to include strategies for effectively promoting healthy dietary patterns across different life stages.

The USDA and HHS encourage public participation in the development of the guidelines. They have invited public comments and held meetings to listen to oral comments from the public. This allows for a more inclusive and transparent process, ensuring that the guidelines are informed by a range of perspectives and expertise.

The USDA and HHS are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all Americans by providing science-driven recommendations. By increasing the focus on plant-based diets, the agencies recognize the importance of plant-based nutrition in promoting overall health and preventing diet-related chronic diseases. This aligns with the work of other federal agencies, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which aims to support nutritious eating patterns and empower consumers to make informed food choices.

The FDA provides information to help consumers make informed food choices

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides information to help consumers make informed food choices. The FDA's nutrition initiatives aim to empower consumers to build nutritious diets that support health and wellness, with the understanding that most dietary patterns in the US do not align with federal dietary recommendations.

The FDA's approach to nutrition is centred on providing information and labelling, promoting a healthier food supply, and communicating, educating, and engaging with consumers and health educators.

Providing Information and Labelling

The FDA requires food manufacturers to make detailed information about their products easily accessible to consumers so that they can make informed choices about their health and wellness. This includes the Nutrition Facts label, Menu and Vending Machine Labelling, and Front-of-Package Labelling. The FDA also provides specific information on plant-based milk and animal food alternatives, as well as label claims for food and dietary supplements.

Promoting a Healthier Food Supply

The FDA encourages the food industry to make food a vehicle for wellness by creating healthier products. For example, the FDA has issued voluntary sodium reduction targets for a wide range of processed, packaged, and prepared foods to support a gradual reduction in sodium across the food supply.

Communicating, Educating, and Engaging

The FDA plays a role in educating consumers and health educators on how to interpret and use nutrition labelling information. They provide timely and informative communications to stakeholders and engage with them regularly to understand their perspectives and work towards shared goals.

The FDA also collaborates with other federal agencies, such as the USDA and HHS, to ensure that consumers have access to information and resources that can help them make informed food choices. This includes initiatives such as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and MyPlate.

By providing information and guidance, the FDA empowers consumers to make informed food choices and supports them in building nutritious diets that promote health and wellness.

The Veterans Health Administration works to reduce consumption of natural resources and increase the service of local food items

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is actively working to reduce its consumption of natural resources and increase its service of local food items. The VHA is the largest integrated healthcare system fully funded by the US government. It has adopted the MOVE! Weight Management Program, which promotes healthy eating behaviour, increased physical activity, and celebrates even small weight losses.

The VHA's Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) provides comprehensive, evidence-based nutritional services for veterans and their families across VHA's healthcare facilities. NFS delivers safe, high-quality patient food services. NFS Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) serve as nutrition diagnosticians and medical nutrition therapists for veterans and their families, utilising the nutrition care process and mentoring future RDNs through VA Dietetic Internship programs. RDNs promote wellness and disease prevention by ensuring effective nutrition education and counselling. The nutrition team proactively contributes to multiple VA initiatives, including TeleNutrition, the Patient-Aligned Care Team (PACT), Cultural Transformation, nutrition research, and social media communications.

The VHA is also transforming its advanced clinical nutrition practices, data-driven quality improvement, and healthy teaching kitchen programs to improve health outcomes for veterans and their family members. The Healthy Teaching Kitchen Program promotes healthy eating through interactive cooking demonstrations and creating cookbooks. The VHA also provides a list of over 40 farmers' markets at VA facilities across the country, where veterans and their families can purchase local produce.

Despite these efforts, a 2019 study found that all VA hospitals contain vending machines providing mostly soda, candy, and junk food, with few healthy options available. These products directly conflict with healthy food choice recommendations from US governing health bodies.

The USDA excluded the word 'sustainability' from the previous National Dietary Guidelines

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for releasing an update to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) every five years. The DGA is a set of recommendations that aim to promote nutritious diets and inform and guide all public policies regarding food. Despite its influence and scope, the DGA has been criticised for failing to address the impact of dietary guidelines on the health of the planet. Notably, the words "sustainability", "climate change", and "global warming" are notably absent from the guidelines.

In 2015, the advisory committee, or Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC), proposed adding sustainability to the DGA for the first time. The committee recognised the significant impact of food and beverages on environmental outcomes and recommended that dietary patterns be "lower in red and processed meat". However, this proposal was rejected by Congress, which has veto power over the DGA content as it provides funding for the USDA. Lawmakers inserted language into the next appropriations bill for the agency, stating that the DGA "`shall be limited in scope to only matters of diet and nutrient intake` and that the guidelines must be 'solely nutritional and dietary in nature.'"

The exclusion of sustainability from the DGA is particularly notable given the growing recognition of the environmental impact of the food we eat. The food we consume plays a crucial role in sustaining ecosystems, and ignoring its impact on the planet can have detrimental consequences. This exclusion also maintains a narrow focus on nutrition and ignores the broader implications of dietary choices.

The USDA's refusal to consider sustainability in the DGA may be influenced by its historical ties to the meat industry. Promoting meat consumption has been a significant part of the USDA's mission, and the meat industry holds considerable political power in the United States. Additionally, there may be concerns about the health benefits of plant-based diets, as access to fruits and vegetables can be limited for certain communities.

Despite the exclusion of sustainability from the DGA, there are other government agencies and initiatives that promote plant-based diets and sustainable eating practices. For example, the Veterans Health Administration's Nutrition and Food Services is working to reduce its consumption of natural resources and increase its service of local food items. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) aims to empower consumers to build nutritious diets and support health and wellness. The FDA provides information and tools to help consumers make informed food choices and encourages the industry to make healthier foods.

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