MAHA Commission presents Make Our Children Healthy Again strategy
The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission released the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, a comprehensive plan with over 120 initiatives to tackle the growing rates of the most prevalent high-risk childhood diseases in the US, such as obesity, asthma, and cancer.
“This strategy represents the most sweeping reform agenda in modern history—realigning our food and health systems, driving education, and unleashing science to protect America’s children and families," said US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins emphasized the critical role American farmers and ranchers, as well as the agricultural industry at large, play in this solution.
“Together with our partners at HHS and EPA, we are charting a new course, strengthening the health of our families, and ensuring the United States leads the world with the safest, strongest, and most abundant food supply,” she said.
Among pillars focused on expanding science and research, as well as reforming dietary guidelines and our understanding of "ultra-processed foods," the MAHA strategy also seeks to fast-track deregulation that results in the streamlining of organic certifications, easing barriers to farm-to-school programs and direct-to-consumer sales, and accelerating EPA approvals for innovative agricultural products.
The agricultural industry celebrates the MAHA initiative
In the wake of the release of the MAHA Commission's second report, the agricultural industry celebrated the announcement and the central role fresh produce plays in it.
Through a press release, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) said this new document "marks an important step in elevating nutrition as a national public health priority."
"We applaud the Commission’s recognition of the vital role ‘whole, healthy’ foods like fresh produce play in improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs," the entity said. "Simply put, you cannot make America healthy again without fruits and vegetables."
Western Growers, an industry organization representing local and regional family farmers in California, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico, also praised the government initiative.
Through a press release, the industry collective's President and CEO, Dave Puglia, stated that the MAHA commission is finally placing a "long-overdue emphasis on realigning our national food and nutrition policies to greatly enhance the role of fresh produce.”
Puglia also thanked the Trump Administration for its deregulation efforts, which, in his opinion, will strengthen the American ag industry.
“The MAHA Commission has created a roadmap that cuts regulatory red tape and fosters innovation in much-needed research necessary to protect and strengthen the ability of American growers to provide these fresh fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts," he said.
*Images are referential
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