D.C. Section of IFT to host food policy impact summit
The Washington, D.C., Section of the Institute of Food Technologists, in partnership with the American Society for Nutrition, plans to host a two-day food policy event Feb. 27-28.
Food Policy Impact 2024, in Washington, D.C., will review the latest updates in food and nutrition-related regulations, policies and programs, as well as get input from the industry on how organizations are planning to or are already responding to these changes, according to a news release.
The event will feature updates from leaders across key governing bodies, including the Food and Drug Administration, USDA, Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services, the release said.
The first day is scheduled to begin with an opening keynote from Food Fix founder Helena Bottemiller Evich on the food and nutrition policy landscape in 2024, followed by a series of regulatory agency updates:
- FDA — Jim Jones, FDA deputy commissioner for human foods
- 2025-2030 dietary guidelines for Americans — Janet de Jesus, nutrition adviser with DHHS, and Eve Stoody, director of the USDA's Nutritional Guidance and Analysis Division.
- USDA — Sandra Eskin, deputy undersecretary for food safety with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
- EPA — Jeffrey Dawson, science adviser with the EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
- Dietary reference intakes for macronutrients — Cindy Davis, national program leader with the USDA Agricultural Research Service.
The secon day — which is set to begin with updates from Institute of Food Technologists Senior Director of Government Affairs and Nutrition Anna Rosales and American Society for Nutrition Chief Science Policy Officer Sarah Ohlhorst — will explore topics related to food policy, including:
- Conflicting federal and state regulations.
- The strengths and weaknesses of a global food supply.
- The benefits and risk of weight loss drugs.
- Exploring the connection between food and mood.
- The potential for collaboration between industry and the public sector.
“After the resounding success of last year’s food policy event, we are thrilled to once again welcome back top food and nutrition leaders across government, industry, and academia as we come together to discuss the ever-changing US food and nutrition regulatory landscape,” DC-IFT President Kelly Higgins, president of the Washington, D.C., Section of the Institute of Food Technologists and a clinical nutrition scientist at scientific and engineering consulting firm, said in the release.
Higgins has been an Institute of Food Technologists member since 2013 and a member of the D.C. section board since 2019. The Washington, D.C., Section is one of 53 regional sections of the Institute of Food Technologists.
Each section plans a variety of local and regional events throughout the year, including suppliers’ nights, social events, educational sessions, philanthropic activities, and special events for students and new professionals, according to the release.
Related link: Learn more and register for the event
