Food Directions

This week, our very own Maggie Sommers Gentile, MS, RD, LD represented Food Directions at the SNAC International Executive Leadership Forum. Here she moderated a panel with two world-class experts on the critical topic of Nutrition, Science, and the Health of the Consumer. Given all of the research ongoing in these areas, together with Dr. Siddhartha Angadi and Dr. Richard Mattes, they helped make sense of what is facing the snacking industry and identified what they can expect in the future. Interested in the impact of GLP-1 drugs or the ongoing dialogue on ultra-processed foods? Contact our team for more expertise on these issues or on other hot-button topics impacting the food industry today! #ELF24 #foodpolicy #nutrition

Attending FNCE 2024? Connect with our team in Minneapolis! This week, our very own Beth Johnson and Alison (Ali) Webster, MS, RD will be at this year’s Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics's Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE). Our team is excited to engage with individuals and organizations in the food and nutrition space and dive into the latest policy trends in food, nutrition, and health. Send us a note if you'd like to connect! #FNCE #eatrightPRO #foodpolicy

Last week, the Food Directions team gathered in Washington, D.C. for our annual summer celebration! We’re so grateful for the chance to all celebrate in person and reflect on the successes our team has achieved this year. A special thanks to our valued clients and partners who continue to support us along this journey. Food policy isn’t just what we do, it is what we love. Meet our powerhouse team: Beth Johnson, Maggie Sommers Gentile, MS, RD, LD, Allison (Allie) Graham MS, RDN, Alison (Ali) Webster, MS, RD, Alexis Settineri, and Alexa Smith. #FoodDirections #teambuilding #foodpolicy 

Happy Food Directions anniversaries to Allison (Allie) Graham MS, RDN, Alison (Ali) Webster, MS, RD, and Alexa Smith. We are deeply grateful for their dedication and the invaluable contributions they’ve made to our team and clients. Their efforts continue to empower our partners to successfully navigate the ever-evolving food policy landscape.  #teamappreciation #workanniversary #foodpolicy

Join the conversation at SNAC International’s Executive Leadership Forum on October 16, 2024! Our very own Maggie Sommers Gentile, MS, RD, LD will be moderating a panel exploring health, nutrition, and GLP-1 drugs. Tune in below to learn more: ⬇

As part of FDA’s ongoing work to address excess sodium intake in the U.S., the agency published Phase II of its voluntary sodium reduction targets for commercially processed, packaged, and prepared foods. The draft guidance contains three-year sodium reduction targets for 163 food categories, building on FDA’s Phase I sodium reduction targets that were issued in October 2021. Preliminary findings on the food industry's progress toward achieving the Phase I targets showed that 40% of food categories met or were close to meeting the Phase I sodium reduction targets. Moving forward, the agency intends to conduct progress assessments every three years on sodium reduction, with plans to issue a complete evaluation of industry’s progress when 2024 data becomes available. While these reduction targets are voluntary, we expect pressure to participate in reductions to grow. In the meantime, stay tuned for FDA’s forthcoming webinar on the draft guidance and the opportunity to submit public comments due November 14, 2024. #FDA #sodiumreduction #foodpolicy https://lnkd.in/e6jeP_Ub

Amidst the increased activity from U.S. states to restrict various food chemicals in the food supply, FDA has faced increased pressure to modernize and strengthen their chemical safety activities and approaches. FDA’s new Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, Jim Jones, has said he intends to fulfill the agency’s ambitious food chemical agenda as a component under the implementation of FDA’s new unified Human Foods Program, which is set to begin this Fall. One component of the agency’s efforts to enhance its food chemical safety program will include the development of a more transparent process for identifying which food chemicals currently on the market should be prioritized for safety reviews. Stay tuned for the public meeting on September 25th where the agency will share insights and seek stakeholder feedback on its plan to enhance its post-market food chemical assessment process. #FDA #foodpolicy #foodchemicalsafety

Are you attending The Table in Austin, Texas? If so, don't miss the Nutrition Expert Exchange breakout sessions hosted by Maggie Sommers Gentile, MS, RD, LD, on behalf of our client the National Restaurant Association! If you plan to attend, join her and Laura Abshire for an engaging discussion on Food Policy Landscape: 🗓 Date: Wednesday, July 24   ⏰ Time: 10:15 – 11:15 AM   📍 Session: "Updates on Federal, State, and Local Nutrition Policies" Laura and Maggie will provide crucial updates on nutrition policies at all levels. This session is vital for anyone involved in nutrition and policy-making. Come see us and gain valuable insights to stay ahead in the field. Feel free to reach out to Maggie if you're attending — she'd love to connect!

Will you be attending the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) FIRST Food Expo? Message our CEO and Founder Beth Johnson who will be at this year’s event to connect. #IFTFIRST #foodpolicy #nutrition

To provide greater insight into the upcoming food policy landscape, the Biden Administration released its Spring 2024 Unified Agenda with estimated publication timelines for several regulations at FDA and USDA currently under development. While these estimated timelines are subject to change, these updates offer a glimpse into the agencies’ plans for the year ahead. It’s hard to believe we’re over halfway through 2024, and as our team looks ahead to the rest of the year, we anticipate several high-priority nutrition regulations will be released in the coming months. Stay tuned for the proposed rule on front-of-pack nutrition labeling, a final rule on the nutrient content claim ‘healthy,’ and draft guidance on the next edition of voluntary sodium reduction targets in processed, packaged, and prepared foods. Check out more key regulatory actions detailed below to help you and your business stay at the forefront of the ever-evolving food policy landscape. #foodpolicy #insights #nutrition ⬇