Hunger Action, Dairy Insights and Events

Celebrate World School Milk Day—September 24

This month’s edition comes during Hunger Action Month, emphasizing the need to close nutrition gaps and advance health equity. You’ll find research, practical tools, and global initiatives—like World School Milk Day—that highlight dairy’s role in improving diet quality and support community health.

September Is Hunger Action Month: A campaign led by Feeding America, to raise awareness about food insecurity and inspire the public to take action.

• According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, most people 2 years of age and older do not meet dietary guideline recommendations for dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, highlighting the ongoing gap between guidance and everyday eating patterns.

• Support nutritious food choices with the Family Wellness Prescription Pad, which encourages goal setting to improve nutrient-dense food intake.
• Economic disparities limit access to nutritious foods, contributing to poorer diet quality in children. Participation in food assistance programs, especially the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), is linked to better diet quality, weight outcomes and reduced household food insecurity. These research findings highlight WIC’s important role in reducing nutrition insecurity and inequities to support child health. Read the full study Diet Quality and Weight Status are Predicted by Federal Nutrition Assistance Program Participation, Health, and Demographics - ScienceDirect.

MAHA Commission Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report 

The MAHA Commission announced the release of the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy report. The report outlines a comprehensive federal response to childhood chronic disease, emphasizing nutrition, environmental health and systemic reform. Key initiatives in the report include: 

• Updating the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) to prioritize whole foods and reduce ultra-processed food consumption.
• Enhancing school meal programs with more whole, healthy foods and removing restrictions on whole milk in schools.
• Calling for reforms in food labeling, chemical additive regulation and direct-to-consumer food marketing. 
  Read the full report here. 

Celebrate World School Milk Day—September 24

Join schools and communities around the world in celebrating World School Milk Day on September 24! This global observance emphasizes the importance of equitable access to dairy, reinforcing its value in nourishing children and supporting their development worldwide.

Here’s how you can get involved:

• Download Dairy Council of California’s complimentary World School Milk Day toolkit with ready-to-use resources, activity ideas and promotional materials.
• Share free nutrition education resources for school age children with classroom educators.

Dairy Nutrition Spotlight

An article on the dairy matrix, published in the California Academy of Physician's Associates Magazine, highlights how the unique combination of nutrients in dairy foods work together to support health. A quick, valuable read for health professionals wanting to stay current on emerging nutrition science. Exploring the Power of the Food Matrix in Health Outcomes.

Upcoming Events

Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in Nashville, TN, October 11-14, 2025

• Attend our partner session Mentorship in Action Breaking Barriers and Advancing Diversity in Nutrition Research and Dietetics and learn about two mentorship programs (NextGen Scientist Program, Supporting Diversity in Research Pilot) that support diversity and professional development in nutrition research and dietetics.

California Academy of Physician’s Associates Annual Conference, Pomona, CA, October 9-12, 2025

• Come visit us at booth 37 and explore nutrition professional development opportunities and nutrition education resources for health professionals.

California Area Agency on Aging Conference, Garden Grove, CA, November 5-7, 2025

• Visit us at our exhibit booth to learn more about our new nutrition education resources for older adults.

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Let's Work Together

Questions, concerns, compliments or collaboration?

Please contact Bessie O’Connor, Registered Dietician Nutritionist at boconnor@dairycouncilofca.org for more information.