World Dairy Summit and Important Regulatory Updates

I hope you’re having a great start to your week as I share some important information and updates with you. Last week, our team attended the International Dairy Federation's World Dairy Summit in Chicago to engage with industry leaders and dignitaries from around the world. We were honored to be a part of the world dairy stage and to present our poster Advancing Milk and Dairy’s Role in Improving Nutrition Security During Pregnancy and Early Childhood. In collaboration with Dairy Cares, California Dairy Research Foundation and California Milk Advisory Board, we co-hosted an exhibit booth to promote the California Dairy Sustainability Summit and highlight California’s leadership in climate-smart dairy agriculture. I am inspired and energized by dairy’s role in sustainable nutrition across the globe and have several updates to share today.

Nutrition Regulatory Updates

• Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030: The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee released its next set of draft scientific protocols, which are now available for public comment. Dairy Council of California intends to submit public comments on the scientific protocols to advocate on the critical contribution of milk and dairy foods within healthy eating patterns. Comments can be submitted here by November 17, 2023. Three protocols are relevant to dairy foods:
  • What is the relationship between food sources of saturated fat consumed and risk of cardiovascular disease?
  • What is the relationship between dietary patterns consumed and bone health?
    
  • What are the implications for nutrient intakes when modifying the Dairy and Fortified Soy group quantities within the Healthy U.S.-Style Dietary Pattern? What are the implications for nutrient intakes when dairy food and beverage sources are replaced with non-dairy alternatives?
• Front-of-Package Labeling: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an important virtual public meeting on front-of-package nutrition labeling on November 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST. During this meeting, FDA will provide an overview of its work to date on front-of package labeling, including its consumer research. But more importantly, the meeting will also include an opportunity for public comment, thus serving as an important moment in time for informing FDA’s proposed rule (expected in December 2023). To make a public comment, you must register here by Monday, October 30. For general meeting attendance, you can register here.
• Eco-Labeling: In early October, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Food Forum hosted a webinar, Food Product Labeling: Challenges of Defining Sustainability. It explored the challenges and variables for defining sustainability for food product labeling, the impact of sustainability labeling on consumers, and barriers for regulatory agencies, as well as research gaps and future considerations.
• Dairy Nutrition Incentives Program Act of 2023: The International Dairy Foods Association has released a new video to educate on the Dairy Nutrition Incentives Program Act of 2023. The bipartisan bill builds on the Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives (HFMI) projects authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill to incentivize the purchase of fat-free and 1% milk options among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants. This bill would expand HFMI projects to many additional nutritious dairy products, including whole milk options, cheese, yogurt and other cultured dairy products.
• California Healthy Meals : On Oct. 8, Gov. Newsom signed SB 348 (Skinner), also known as Healthy School Meals for All. It aims to ensure that every school-age child has access to two healthy meals every day, meal options with less added sugar and sodium, and adequate time to eat at school. Dairy is an integral part of school meal programs, supporting children’s health and well-being. Dairy Council of CA continues to educate on the health benefits of dairy foods through these important nutrition security programs. California dairy processors’ innovation continues to reduce added sugar and sodium in school milk and dairy foods in response to public health concerns while maintaining the taste kids love. 

Spotlight on Dairy Nutrition Research and Media

• Dairy Council of CA Nutrition and Industry Affairs Officer Ashley Rosales joined National Dairy Council’s Katie Brown, EdD, RDN and Registered Dietitian and social media expert Lauren Twigge to discuss the health benefits of dairy foods and how the dairy community can leverage dairy’s inherent nutritional value. The webinar, titled Dairy’s Role in Health and Wellness, aired September 20.
• “Types of Dairy Foods and Risk of Fragility Fracture in the Prospective Nurses’ Health Study Cohort” was recently published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 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