273404 Policy Options to Address the Public Health Impact of Processed Food and Beverages

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 11:31 AM - 11:51 AM

Jennifer L. Pomeranz, JD, MPH , Yale University, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, New Haven, CT
Highly processed foods and beverages (collectively food) have replaced whole food in the diets of many Americans. These unhealthy products are highly marketed, cost less than whole foods, and are more accessible than whole foods especially for those living in low income areas. International public health and economic studies confirm that nutritional quality decreases and obesity increases as people consume a higher proportion of processed food in their diets. The majority of these items are high in sugar and low in nutrients. Consumers have little information about added sugar in their foods due to outdated labeling requirements in the United States. This presentation will examine current labeling and requirements and suggest viable options for increased added sugar labeling on food packaging. Further, this presentation will differentiate among several taxation strategies proposed in the literature and popular media and identify those that would likely further and support public health.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants should be able to: a. Identify gaps in current food labeling requirements b. Evaluate viable labeling strategies for processed food and beverages c. Differentiate between promising and problematic taxation strategies

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be a presenter on the content that I am responsible for because I have a JD, MPH and work, publish and speak on topics relevant to the session. I am the Director of Legal Initiatives for the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.