New MAHA Report and Ultra Processed Foods Public Comments

During the last week of August, Dairy Council of California gathered in San Diego for our annual All Staff Conference to launch our new Strategic Success Plan, providing clear direction and shared purpose for the year ahead. It was an uplifting event focused on investing in our team, measuring our impact and building meaningful partnerships.

Designed to foster innovation, strengthen internal collaboration and deepen our connection to the dairy community, the conference served as a powerful reminder of the impact we can achieve together. We toured a local dairy farm, which offered a firsthand look at sustainability in action and reconnected all of us to the roots of our work. We offered hands-on AI training to equip our team with tools to enhance strategy, improve efficiency and reimagine new approaches to advance our goals. A spirited “Dairy Showdown” brought out our creativity and competitive sides, while shared meals and moments reminded us of the power of community. I left feeling energized and grateful to have an empowered team deeply committed to elevating the health of California communities through dairy.

Below is an update on the new strategy report from the Make American Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission as well as timely opportunities to engage in shaping the definition of ultra-processed foods, implement turnkey activities for World School Milk Day and explore new research on healthy eating patterns.

MAHA Commission Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report

The MAHA Commission announced the anticipated 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.
• Supporting precision farming, soil health, and farm-to-school connections, while deregulating barriers for small farms and food producers.

Read the full report here. Dairy Council of CA will keep the dairy community comprised of updates and implications related to the strategy report.

Public Comments to Define Ultra-Processed Foods

Dairy Council of California recently submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture for a Request for Information to gather data and input to support the development of a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in the U.S. food supply. Key points from the comments include:

• Support for developing a clear, evidence-based definition of UPFs.
• Concern that oversimplifying foods based solely on processing overlooks nutritional value.
• Clarification that many foods that have gone through various degrees of processing, including yogurt and cheese, are nutrient-dense, culturally relevant and critical for food safety and accessibility.
• Concern for restrictive policies that could reduce diet quality and limit access to nutrient-dense foods for vulnerable populations.
• Call for a nuanced, science-based approach that considers nutrition, affordability, health equity and food security.

The full public comments can be downloaded here. We encourage you as members of the dairy community to get involved and share your input through the public comment process. We are sharing our comments to help guide your submission with evidence-based messaging, and we are available if you have further questions. Our team has also developed an informative handout to help navigate the scientific evidence on food processing and health to make informed food and nutrition policies. You can download the handout here.

The public comment period is open until Sept. 23, 2025. Comments may be submitted online or mailed to Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

New Preprint Diet Modeling Study on UPFs: Tradeoffs in Convenience, Cost and Diet Quality

Adding to the evidence base on UPFs, Kevin Hall, a leading researcher on UPFs, shared a new pre-print study titled “Tradeoffs Between Convenience, Cost, and Healthy Eating Index for Diets Aligned to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans but Varying in Ultra-Processed Foods.”  The study compares three diets with varying levels of UPFs as defined by Nova the most well-known food classification system developed to categorize foods based on degree of processing. Researchers found that “while healthy eating patterns can be achieved with varying levels of UPFs, significant trade-offs exist between convenience, cost, diet quality, and shelf stability.” This new research highlights the complexity of evidence on food processing and health and real-life implications.

World School Milk Day: We’re Celebrating—Join Us!

Join schools and communities around the world in celebrating World School Milk Day on Sept. 24! This global observance emphasizes the importance of equitable access to dairy at school, 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.
• Participate in our School Milk Shoutout Campaign. Share photos, stories and shoutouts on social media, showing how milk is part of school meals. Learn more here.
• NEW this year: Celebrate with a special Spanish-language virtual farm tour on Sept. 24 at 9 or 10 a.m. Share with your community to sign up here.

Spotlight on Dairy Research + Media

• Research: Associations of common fats and oils with cardiometabolic health outcomes. A new study suggests that butter may be a healthier dietary fat source than margarine for heart health and risk of diabetes. Read the full study here.

If you have questions, concerns or feedback you would like to share, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Best regards, 

Amy DeLisio, CEO
Dairy Council of California
adelisio@DairyCouncilofCA.org