Ag lawmakers and farm groups are applauding the Make America Healthy Again Commission after the release of their latest report. The first one did not sit well with industry stakeholders, but most groups say the findings show that officials were listening the last time around.
They are looking at a few key areas, like research, and want to expand the National Institute of Health to focus on chronic disease. They are also looking at taking executive action on dietary guidelines and want to fully define ultra-processed foods. Deregulation will be another focus area, working to restore whole milk in schools and ease barriers for farm-to-school programs. The Commission is also committed to working with the private sector to raise awareness and education.
Pesticides and other crop protection tools were front and center in the last report, leaving many to wonder if they were in jeopardy; however, those mentions were missing from this week’s release. The Farm Bureau’s Zippy Duvall said they appreciate the Commission’s willingness to meet with farmers and hear their concerns. He says the U.S. food system has evolved over time to meet the needs of consumers, and they look forward to working with the Commission to further meet those goals.
Ag lawmakers are also weighing in. Congressional Ag Committee Chairs Thompson and Boozman say they appreciate the extra talks with farmers and ranchers, but say work must continue. They are calling for the Commission to ensure innovation is prioritized moving forward in order to meet growing demand.
On the producer side, the National Pork Producers Council says they still have concerns, but note this week’s report is an improvement over the May release. This week, the Commission wrote that it wants to develop a government-wide definition of “ultra-processed foods.” Leaders at NPPC want those terms to be fair and workable for the pork industry. They are also asking that any animal feed practices that are widely considered safe be excluded from any future reforms.
Dairy producers also got a nod in this week’s MAHA report. The Commission is calling for a stop to reduced-fat milk requirements in federal programs, allowing greater consumer choice. Dairy leaders, like the IDFA, support the move and are calling on USDA to expand dairy incentives in the SNAP program.
