IOM Topic: Food and Nutrition

Evaluating Progress of Obesity Prevention Efforts

5/23/2012

The study will draw on the recommendations of the IOM report, Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention and consider new metrics to measure progress in developing this plan. The committee will also develop a community-level measurement plan to add support to the national-level plan, and will identify measurement ideas that can determine the impact of the overall HBO/IOM, The Weight of the Nation campaign.

The Future of Performance Standards in Food Safety: Innovation Ahead?

5/15/2012

Food Safety performance standards have a long history of use in the U.S. and worldwide, ranging from “best practice” standards, to defined log reductions, to zero tolerances. Mandates for new performance standards as set forth in the recently enacted Food Safety Modernization Act further illustrate their importance. This session will explore the implementation of the new law, and provide federal agencies and others with an opportunity to exchange ideas about how performance standards can be designed and implemented so as to provide optimal public health protection

Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation

5/11/2012

Two-thirds of adults and one-third of children are overweight or obese. Left unchecked, obesity’s effects on health, health care costs, and our productivity as a nation could become catastrophic. The staggering human toll of obesity-related chronic disease and disability and an annual cost of $190.2 billion for treating obesity-related illness underscore the urgent need to strengthen obesity prevention efforts in the United States. The IOM evaluated prior obesity-prevention strategies and identified recommendations to accelerate progress. The IOM’s recommendations, when implemented together, could profoundly reshape the environments where people live, learn, work, and play.

Alliances for Obesity Prevention: Finding Common Ground - Workshop Summary

5/11/2012

Many organizations are making focused efforts to prevent obesity. To achieve their goals, accelerate their progress, and sustain their success, the assistance of many other individuals and groups—not all of them with a singular focus on obesity prevention—will be essential. In October 2011 the Institute of Medicine held a workshop that provided an opportunity for obesity prevention groups to hear from and hold discussions with many of these potential allies in obesity prevention. They explored common ground for joint activities and mutual successes, and lessons learned from efforts at aligning diverse groups with goals in common.

IOM Report Identifies Key Obesity-Prevention Strategies to Scale Back 'Weight of the Nation'

5/8/2012

America's progress in arresting its obesity epidemic has been too slow, and the condition continues to erode productivity and cause millions to suffer from potentially debilitating and deadly chronic illnesses, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

Committee on the Examination of the Adequacy of Food Resources and SNAP Allotments

5/7/2012

An IOM committee will examine the adequacy of Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) allotments, specifically the (1) the feasibility of establishing an objective, evidence-based, science-driven definition of SNAP benefit adequacy consistent with the program goals of improving food security and access to a healthy diet, and other relevant dimensions of adequacy, and (2) data and analyses needed to support an evidence-based assessment of the adequacy of SNAP allotments

Speeding Progress Against Obesity Crisis: IOM Report Release May 8

4/30/2012

The surge in America’s obesity rates demands faster progress to stop and reverse these trends. Accelerating Progress on Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation, the Institute of Medicine’s latest report on combating the obesity epidemic, focuses on strategies that various sectors of society can take to support individuals' and families' efforts to achieve healthy diets and physical activity levels.

Exploring the True Cost of Food: A Workshop

4/27/2012

The Planning Committee on Exploring the True Cost of Food will convene a workshop to explore the hidden costs of food production. This 1.5 day workshop will examine the costs of food when environmental externalities and unintended public health consequences are accounted.

IOM Executive Officer Co-Authors Book on Fighting the Forces That Make Americans Obese

4/24/2012

A new book co-authored by Judith Salerno, Leonard D. Schaeffer Executive Officer of the Institute of Medicine, examines the forces driving the obesity epidemic in the U.S. and offers practical tips to those who want to make healthier choices in spite of these pressures.

Obesity Crisis Takes National Spotlight as IOM and Partners Issue Films, Book, and New Report

4/23/2012

Starting the first week of May, a series of new materials and activities by the Institute of Medicine, HBO, and other organizations aim to galvanize national attention and spur action on America's obesity crisis. Key elements of this national initiative include a documentary film series on obesity's causes and consequences, a companion book to the series, and the release of a new IOM report that identifies best strategies to speed progress against the epidemic.

Planning Committee on Exploring the True Cost of Food

4/18/2012

The Institute of Medicine, through collaboration with the National Research Council has initiated a new activity on exploring the hidden costs of food. With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a committee has been convened to plan and conduct a 1.5 day public information-gathering workshop. The workshop will feature invited expert presentations and focused breakout group discussions.

IOM Partners in 'The Weight of the Nation,' A New National Initiative to Confront Obesity Crisis

4/17/2012

As obesity continues to diminish the quality of people's lives and raise health care costs, the Institute of Medicine is pleased to join HBO, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente in developing "The Weight of the Nation," a new national campaign tackling the obesity crisis.

Food Forum

4/11/2012

The Food Forum convenes scientists, administrators, and policymakers from academia, government, industry, and public sectors on an ongoing basis to discuss problems and issues related to food, food safety, and regulation and to identify possible approaches for addressing those problems and issues.

Ensuring Safe Foods and Medical Products Through Stronger Regulatory Systems Abroad

4/10/2012

Whether it’s suspect scallions from Mexico or contaminated ingredients from China used in the blood thinner heparin, the FDA is intimately familiar with the daunting task of policing the safety of food and medical products faced by regulators abroad. The FDA is responsible for protecting American consumers from unsafe food, medicines, biologics, and medical products that originate from many different countries and are transported through complex supply chains. The IOM formed a committee to identify the core elements of food, medicine, medical product, and biologics regulatory systems in developing countries; to pin-point the main gaps in these systems; and to design a strategy to leverage the expertise of the FDA and other stakeholders to strengthen regulatory systems abroad.

Meeting 3: Examination of the Adequacy of Food Resources and SNAP Allotments

4/9/2012

Meeting 1: Examination of the Adequacy of the Food Resources and SNAP Allotments

4/9/2012

Strengthening Core Elements of Regulatory Systems in Developing Countries

4/4/2012

At the request of the Food and Drug Administration, the IOM will identify the core elements of needed regulatory systems in developing countries. The IOM will rank these needs and recommend a strategy for the FDA to improve regulatory capacity abroad.

Report Release: Ensuring Safe Foods and Medical Products Through Stronger Regulatory Systems Abroad

4/4/2012

Public release of Ensuring Safe Foods and Medical Products Through Stronger Regulatory Systems Abroad

U.S. Agencies Should Take Steps to Boost Developing Nations' Regulatory Capacity to Ensure That Imported Foods and Drugs Are Safe

4/4/2012

Many low- and middle-income nations do not have technologically advanced regulatory systems, which limits their oversight of food and drug safety, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

IOM Report on Safety of Imported Foods, Drugs to Be Discussed at Public Briefing

4/4/2012

Members of the Institute of Medicine committee that wrote the new report Ensuring Safe Foods and Medical Products Through Stronger Regulatory Systems Abroad will discuss their report with interested stakeholders and reporters at a one-hour public briefing. The briefing will begin at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 4, in the First Amendment Lounge of the National Press Club, 529 14th St., N.W., Washington, D.C.

What You're Reading - March 2012

4/2/2012

A list of the most viewed IOM reports for the month of March, 2012.

Meeting 2/Workshop: Examination of the Adequacy of Food Resources and SNAP Allotments

3/30/2012

Informing Nutrition Research, Nutrigenomics, and Nutrigenetics

3/29/2012

The Institute of Medicine convened a two-day workshop in June 2006 that featured invited presentations from and discussions with nutritional scientists and other researchers on ways that genomics can inform nutrition research and the potential for nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics to expand knowledge and understanding in nutritional science and relationships between nutrients, diet, and the prevention and control of chronic disease.

Leveraging Food Technology for Obesity Prevention and Reduction Efforts - Workshop Summary

3/28/2012

In order to help reduce the obesity burden on the American population, behavioral scientists have emphasized building an evidence base for understanding what drives the energy imbalance in overweight and obese individuals. Food scientists have tapped into this evidence to develop food technologies that can increase the healthfulness of the food supply by reducing energy density, increasing fruit and vegetable intake, and controlling food portion sizes. The IOM held a workshop November 2-3, 2010, to bring together stakeholders to discuss the opportunities and challenges in using food technology to help individuals with long-term weight maintenance.

Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention

3/23/2012

The IOM is reviewing the progress made in implementing recommendations to prevent obesity. Based on its findings, the IOM will recommend critical steps for the nation that will lead to significant progress in preventing obesity over the next decade.

Walmart announces "Great for You" front-of-package symbol

3/23/2012

Walmart rolled out a new icon on February 7, 2012, to help its customers identify healthier foods. The "Great for You" symbol will appear on packaging for foods that meet nutritional criteria established by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the FDA, the USDA, and the IOM, beginning with Walmart’s Great Value, Marketside food items, and fruits and vegetables.

Nutrition and Healthy Aging in the Community - Workshop Summary

3/20/2012

As the baby boomers age, the population of Americans over the age of 65 is expected to increase to about 55 million in 2020. The increase in the older population will result in a surging demand for the delivery of services and create new challenges for older people, their caregivers, and nutrition and social services professionals who seek to ensure these services’ availability. The IOM held a workshop to highlight topics related to community-based delivery of nutrition services for older adults and to identify nutrition interventions and model programs which support the transition to home care as well as health and independent living in the community.

Enhancing the Regulatory Decision-Making Approval Process for Direct Food Ingredient Technologies

3/15/2012

At this workshop, speakers and participants discussed legal aspects of the direct food additive approval process, changes in science and technology, and opportunities for reform.

Providing Healthy and Safe Foods as We Age - Workshop Summary

3/15/2012

Does a longer life mean a healthier life? The number of adults over 65 in the United States is growing, but many may not be aware that they are at greater risk from foodborne diseases and their nutritional needs change as they age. The IOM’s Food Forum held a workshop October 29-30, 2009, to discuss food safety and nutrition concerns for older adults and the future challenges to providing healthy and safe foods to aging populations.

Scientific Criteria to Ensure Safe Food

3/15/2012

Concerned about the growing controversy, Congress mandated the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies to study the scientific basis for existing criteria and the extent to which they are appropriate to protect consumers. The resulting report, Scientific Criteria to Ensure Safe Food, provides a blueprint for how the agencies responsible for regulating food safety should develop appropriate, science-based criteria.