Kroger, Chef José Andrés and many others provided perspective on hunger, nutrition and health at national convening

Make food the solution, urged José Andrés, chef and founder of World Central Kitchen, July 14 at the National Convening to Inform White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.

As the keynote speaker at the conference co-hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center and Tufts University, Andrés spoke about the inherent problems food can cause, from starvation, to obesity, to war and famine, to climate change and national security. He also encouraged the White House to take the topic of food as seriously as possible and to see it as a solution to many of the world's problems. 

"Good policy is good politics and good policy must be here to support every American ... food stops being the problem and starts being the solution," Andrés said. 

The Kroger Co. also participated in the conference that brought together nonprofits, communities, scientists, industry organizations and representatives, as well as congressional leaders, to move the needle in regard to ending hunger and  enhancing nutrition.

Kroger has "a unique perspective on the role nutrition plays in prevention and mitigation of chronic illness," Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO, said in a news release. 

Kroger officials shared what they learned from the company's annual "Environmental, Social and Governance Zero Hunger | Zero Waste" report. 

"We are proud to share what we have learned ... to help create communities free of hunger and waste, as well as our Food As Medicine platform that helps people lives healthier lives," McMullen said in the release. "We thank the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Task Force on Hunger, Nutrition and Health for inviting us to participate in this important conversation."

Watch the full conference below.