Posted by Caree Jackson Cotwright, PhD, RDN, Director of Vitamin Safety and Well being Fairness, USDA Meals and Vitamin Service in

Meals and Vitamin
Vitamin Safety

Jul 20, 2023

Nearly a 12 months and a half in the past, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack outlined USDA’s deal with vitamin safety, which builds on meals safety by emphasizing the co-existence of meals insecurity and diet-related illnesses and disparities. Put merely, vitamin safety means having constant and equitable entry to wholesome, protected, reasonably priced meals important to optimum well being and well-being. It’s my honor and privilege to affix this effort because the second director of vitamin safety and well being fairness on the Meals and Vitamin Service inside USDA and lead the division’s strategy to advancing meals and vitamin safety.

On this function, I’ll work to raise the administration of USDA’s 16 vitamin help applications. These applications attain one in 4 Individuals over the course of a 12 months, and they’re a few of the most far-reaching, highly effective instruments within the federal authorities to assist be sure that everybody — of all demographic teams and life levels—experiences vitamin safety. Every single day, USDA works arduous (PDF, 792 KB) to attach nutritious meals to these most in want. A part of this work consists of leveraging the momentum (PDF, 10.0 MB) of the historic White Home Convention on Starvation, Vitamin, and Well being and the corresponding Nationwide Technique, which set bold targets to finish starvation, enhance vitamin and bodily exercise, and scale back diet-related illnesses and disparities. We’re additionally working to higher combine vitamin and well being. Since internet hosting a Nationwide Summit this previous fall, USDA has participated in three regional summits hosted by ProMedica and The Root Trigger Coalition. We look ahead to taking part of their 4 remaining summits. We’ve got discovered a lot concerning the energy of integrating vitamin and well being and the facility of our companions in healthcare.

I’m excited to work throughout our division and with our companions in authorities, non-government organizations, and other people working in communities throughout America to proceed constructing consciousness of our efforts and establish alternatives for collaboration. This work consists of constructing new and enhancing collaborative actions with our Nationwide MyPlate Strategic Companions, SNAP-Ed implementing businesses, and everybody dedicated to advancing meals and vitamin safety. I do know these applications are key substances to our work forward. I do know this firsthand by my expertise as a group engaged researcher, like when a dad or mum informed me their baby requested broccoli and kiwi after taking part in our SNAP-Ed supported programming. That’s the facility of USDA applications!

Constructing on the momentum of this previous 12 months and half, we’re excited to launch a brand new video explaining USDA’s efforts to advertise vitamin safety. Please share this video to assist unfold the phrase about methods we’re partnering to attach people, households, and communities throughout this nation with meals that help optimum well being and well-being. Everybody on this nation deserves the chance the thrive. Let’s work collectively to succeed in the targets in our Nationwide Technique and supply significant vitamin help for all.

Class/Subject:
Meals and Vitamin
Vitamin Safety