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| ![]    | ## American Dietetic Association                            |
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| 1.emf) |                                                             |
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December 28, 2005

The Honorable Mike Johanns

1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.

Washington, DC 20250-3355

Dear Secretary Johanns:

The American Dietetic Association (ADA) commends the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) for conducting a series of public
forums as part of Farm Bill 2007 priority development. ADA has a long
history of involvement in food, food assistance, food safety and
nutrition programs and our members spoke in person at many of the
nutrition forums.

ADA is the largest organization of its kind and it is guided by a
philosophy based on sound science and evidence-based practice. ADA
members are sought-out participants in domestic and international
discussions as they work on nearly every aspect of food, nutrition and
health. As such, we are familiar with the importance of the Farm Bill on
USDA food and nutrition resources.

The public needs an uncompromising commitment from their government to
advance nutrition knowledge and to help people apply that knowledge to
maintain and improve their health. Millions of Americans benefit from
USDA food assistance programs, but we still see hunger in the United
States. Co-existing with hunger is a national epidemic of overweight and
obesity. In fact, overweight and obesity is the largest manifestation of
malnutrition in the United States today. We also know that American
children, who are a key recipient of USDA assistance programs, are
overfed but undernourished. Studies show their physical stamina and
activity have declined and their health literacy and knowledge is
limited.

To address this sad commentary on the nutritional status of Americans,
ADA recommends that USDA include four key nutrition goals in their Farm
Bill proposal.

**USDA's food assistance programs must be available to those in need and
adequately funded.** USDA\'s domestic food assistance programs affect
the daily lives of millions of people. About 1 in 5 Americans is
estimated to participate in at least one food assistance program at some
point during the year. The Food Stamp Program is a key component of the
Federal food assistance programs, and provides crucial support to needy
households. Food stamps reach those most in need. Most food stamp
participants are children, with half of all participants under 18.[^1]
Households with children receive about three-quarters of all food stamp
benefits. In addition, many food stamp participants are elderly or
disabled.

**Improving the nutritional status of Americans needs to rise in
priority in food assistance programs, other food programs, and truly,
for all Americans.** A USDA study found a lack of several key nutrients
in American diets, with nearly 93 percent of Americans having
deficiencies in vitamin E. Americans also are not getting enough vitamin
A, vitamin C or magnesium, according to the study. At the same time,
consumers are eating too much of other dietary components. Almost 60
percent of the population consumes more than 10 percent of calories from
saturated fat.[^2] Approximately 95 percent of adult men and 75 percent
of adult women exceed 2,300 mg of sodium per day.[^3]

**Increased investment in nutrition education and nutrition research is
necessary and it must be sustained.** If we expect consumers to take
personal responsibility for making healthy choices, then we have a
responsibility to make sure that they are adequately prepared.  The
government must invest in the nutrition research and nutrition education
necessary to give Americans the knowledge and ability to make their own
nutrition decisions. These nutrition recommendations and programs for
the public must be based on sound science. Only the federal government
has the public mandate and resources to carry out research on human
nutrition needs and to develop dietary guidance that forms the basis for
all federal nutrition programs. We believe federal research exploring
the relationships between diet (particularly dietary patterns) and
health is particularly important.

ADA is an advocate of grading the science behind recommended diets,
nutrition guidelines and product label claims, and teaching consumers
how to read, analyze and use that information.  ADA has its own system
of evidence grading that is serving as a model to government regulators
and nutrition experts here and around the world.  But information is not
education. 

Labels and pamphlets alone do not lead to behavior change. People have
to be taught, and their educational experience needs reinforcement. 
Nutrition education that works is a worthwhile return on investment.
Economic Research Service scientists have studied the connection between
nutrition knowledge and food choices with Americans. [^4]  They have
learned that in socio-economically matched individuals, a 1-point
improvement on a nutrition knowledge scale correlates to a 7-percent
improvement in diet quality. In matched households, an improvement in
the primary meal preparer's knowledge translates to a 19-percent
improvement in household meal quality.  Clearly, nutrition education is
one key to nutrition health.

Our experience has shown that registered dietitians are uniquely
educated and trained to help people learn and incorporate healthful
habits into their lives. ADA works continuously to make it possible for
more Americans to have access to dietetic services through private
sector and public program coverage.

**Having up-to-date knowledge of the nutrition composition of the food
supply is essential for all of work in food, nutrition and health to
bear fruit.** While our farmers continue to grow a wide variety of foods
for consumers here and abroad, our knowledge about food composition, the
foods that Americans are eating and how overall dietary patterns
contribute to health have grown outdated;  some data series have lapsed.
Our food supply is changing in important ways over time, as are the
types of diets that people eat.  Farmers and consumers need to
understand what those changes mean. 

It has been more than a decade since Congress has made a comprehensive
review of the nation's nutrition policies and programs.  Many of the
House Agriculture Committee's newer members have never been briefed on
USDA's role, designated in the 1977 farm bill, as the lead agency for
federal human nutrition research.  Discussions regarding USDA and
nutrition typically focus on food assistance programs, but do not
address the key underlying work being conducted by USDA researchers
throughout the United States that forms the basis for the Federal
nutrition information and education efforts affecting every American. 
   

Clearly, there is significant potential benefit in addressing food,
nutrition and health issues now, before circumstances deteriorate, and
to ameliorate human as well as economic costs.  There will be market
needs for healthful products and services that can help the public
become more involved with their health and health care management.  But
there are roles that currently are not being effectively addressed and
may rightfully need to be addressed by public policy.

We need USDA to address the now out-of-date perception that a safe,
affordable, varied supply of food necessarily leads to a well-nourished,
healthy population.  It is time to shift to a new paradigm that is
founded on people being able and willing to choose healthy diets for
themselves and their families.

Sincerely,

M. Stephanie Patrick

Vice President

Policy Initiatives and Advocacy

[^1]: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office
    of Analysis, Nutrition and Evaluation. *Characteristics of Food
    Stamps Households: Fiscal Year 2004,* FSP-05-CHAR, by Anni
    Poikolainen. Project Officer, Kate Fink. Alexandria, VA; 2005.

[^2]: Briefel RR, Johnson CL. Secular trends in dietary intake in the
    United States. *Annu Rev Nutr*. 2004;24:401-431.

[^3]: Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Water,
    Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate. Washington, DC: The
    National Academies Press; 2004.

[^4]: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service and
    Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion*. USDA's Healthy Eating
    Index and Nutrition Information.* Technical Bulletin No. 1866, by
    Jayachandran N.Variyam, James Blaylock, David Smallwood, Peter
    Basiotis. Alexandria, VA; 1998.