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Public policy update
FROM SNE From the President As this column goes to press in August of 1991, SNE is launching a fund raising and membership recruitment campaign that will be essential to the Society's future as a viable organization. By the time you read this in October of 1991, we will have a fairly good indication of the success of the campaign. And succeed it must, because SNE is needed to assure the status and vitality of the field of nutrition education. The field has now gained wide recognition because of the positive effect nutrition education can have on the health and well-being of people throughout this nation and the world. SNE has played a key role in bringing that recognition to our field. It is ironic, however, that just as the field of nutrition education is experiencing a recognition of its importance, the premier society in the field may be facing its "worst of all times." Nevertheless, we cannot and must not attempt to deny the economics of the times and the impact that has had on SNE. The Society's Executive Board faced the situation in late June when it became apparent that registration for the Annual Meeting was the smallest in the association's history and that membership had actually fallen below the critical level required to sustain the Society. For some time a tight monthto-month cash flow had not aIIowed the Society to accumulate the cash reserves needed to help weather economic down-
turns like the current one. Urgent and bold action was needed to remedy the situation. Accordingly, at its July 13, 1991 meeting, the Board of Directors approved the following plan of action, which is now well underway: NEW MEMBER RECRUITMENT • Double the number of current regular members by December 31, 1991 through a member-to-member recruitment campaign. • Increase the number of student members by reducing the dues from $45 to $30. Increasing student membership, even at this reduced dues level, should have long term payoff as students become full members upon graduation. • Increase the number of corporate members. DUES INCREASE • Increase annual dues for regular members from $85 to $95. • Increase annual dues for retired members from $55 to $60. FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN • Establish a 25th Anniversary Growth Fund through the Society for Nutrition Education Foundation. The Growth Fund is needed to assure the Society's short term survival as well as to provide for its future. Contributions to the 25th Anniversary Growth Fund are tax deductible.
Public Policy Update Greetings from SNE's Public Policy Office in Washington, D.C.! This issue of the journal introduces a new column that will recount SNE's past impact on public policy and inform members about SNE's current efforts to promote food and nutrition policy. Food and nutrition labeling has dominated the media and the executive agenda since the inception of the 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA). The Food and Drug Administration's new commissioner, Dr. David Kessler, has invigorated FDA's campaign to stop misleading nutrition and health claims and enforce more stringent food
labeling regulations. These U.S. actions resemble Canada's 1988 campaign to implement a voluntary nutrition labeling system that follows government guidelines on format, information, Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) and nutrition claims. The FDA has proposed several regulations to implement the requirements of the NLEA: mandatory labeling, ingredient labeling, label format, fresh fruit and vegetable labeling, and percentage juice labeling. By November 8, 1991, the FDA will publish proposed regulations on descriptors, health claims, and serving size. SNE's Task Force on Food Labeling, 203
• Members who contribute at least $25 to the 25th Anniversary Growth Fund will be acknowledged as Supporting Contributors . • Members who become Sustaining Contributors by making gifts of $500 or more will be acknowledged in the Journal of Nutrition Education. Hopefully you have already actively supported one or more of the facets of this plan. However, if you chose not to renew your own membership and chose not to recruit at least one new member or donate to the fund-raising campaign, you have cast your vote in favor of restructuring or dissolving the Society for Nutrition Education. There is still time for you to change that vote-but you must act now. The situation is urgent and the campaign has only about two months remaining to yield the revenue required to maintain the Society. In December, this column will carry a progress report on the campaign that will be written in October. In the February issue, I will provide information on the outcomes of the campaign and the action taken by the Executive Board based on those outcomes. Please join me in ensuring that the report will be a positive one by renewing your membership now, if you have not already done so, by recruiting another new member even if you have already recruited one or more, and by making a contribution to the 25th Anniversary Growth Fund.
Barbara M. Shannon, PhD, RD President 1991-1992 headed by Laurie Quint-Adler, responded regularly to FDA's food and nutrition labeling proposals. You should monitor the Federal Register or call SNE's Public Policy Office to locate current food and nutrition proposals, and then send your individual comments to the FDA before the indicated deadline. SNE serves on the Coordinating Committee of the Food and Nutrition Labeling Group that is urging the USDA to formulate meat and poultry labeling rules consistent with FDA regulations for other foods. This fall, the Society will testify in support of legislation that would harmonize the Federal Trade Commission's rules on nutrition health claims in ads with those of the FDA. The new Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Edward Madigan, has identified nutrition education for
204
FROM SNE
children and low-income families as one of four priorities for his administration. He wants USDA nutrition publications to target recipients of USDA food programs. Madigan has withheld publication of the Eating Right Pyramid, initially designed for adults, until a Cambridge research firm can test the pyramid and other graphics for use with children. Two SNE members serve on the advisory board for this study. Just as in years past, when SNE members persuaded Congress to establish the Nutrition Education and Training Program (NET), SNE's Washington office persuasively lobbied for increased funding for nutrition education initiatives this year. SNE has secured a $2.Sm increase (a total of $lOm for FY 92) for NET, and maintained current funding of $60. Sm for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP). SNE members Gordon Odermann and Jane Voichick prepared
testimony on NET and EFNEP, respectively, and SNE submitted their reports to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees. Nutrition educators should continue to encourage residents of their communities to send letters to Congress and the USDA describing how NET and EFNEP work and how additional funds will be used. The 102nd Congress has reauthorized the Older Americans Act (OAA) and adopted two new nutrition-related provisions: 1) congregate meal sites may operate in public schools; and 2) the Administration of Aging (AoA) must employ a credentialed nutritionist to ensure that meals meet one-third of the RDA requirements and to educate OAA recipients on the importance of following the Dietary Guidelines. SNE lobbied to expand the definition of a credentialed nutritionist as one who has passed a state or national examination for registration
or certification, or who is a registered dietitian to include an individual with a graduate degree from an accredited nutrition program. Contact your local AoA office to determine how you can provide nutrition education to older people and evaluate the nutritional quality of the meals served in your community. Lastly, SNE spear-headed an effort to appoint qualified nutritionists and other professionals to the National Nutrition Monitoring Advisory Board. Congratulations to SNE member, Bettie Sue Greig, Senator Dole's appointment to this Board!
Nancy Chapman, M.P.H., RD. Director of Public Policy, SNE 1629 K St., NW, Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20006 202-659-1858 FAX 202-331-4212
turns like the current one. Urgent and bold action was needed to remedy the situation. Accordingly, at its July 13, 1991 meeting, the Board of Directors approved the following plan of action, which is now well underway: NEW MEMBER RECRUITMENT • Double the number of current regular members by December 31, 1991 through a member-to-member recruitment campaign. • Increase the number of student members by reducing the dues from $45 to $30. Increasing student membership, even at this reduced dues level, should have long term payoff as students become full members upon graduation. • Increase the number of corporate members. DUES INCREASE • Increase annual dues for regular members from $85 to $95. • Increase annual dues for retired members from $55 to $60. FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN • Establish a 25th Anniversary Growth Fund through the Society for Nutrition Education Foundation. The Growth Fund is needed to assure the Society's short term survival as well as to provide for its future. Contributions to the 25th Anniversary Growth Fund are tax deductible.
Public Policy Update Greetings from SNE's Public Policy Office in Washington, D.C.! This issue of the journal introduces a new column that will recount SNE's past impact on public policy and inform members about SNE's current efforts to promote food and nutrition policy. Food and nutrition labeling has dominated the media and the executive agenda since the inception of the 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA). The Food and Drug Administration's new commissioner, Dr. David Kessler, has invigorated FDA's campaign to stop misleading nutrition and health claims and enforce more stringent food
labeling regulations. These U.S. actions resemble Canada's 1988 campaign to implement a voluntary nutrition labeling system that follows government guidelines on format, information, Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) and nutrition claims. The FDA has proposed several regulations to implement the requirements of the NLEA: mandatory labeling, ingredient labeling, label format, fresh fruit and vegetable labeling, and percentage juice labeling. By November 8, 1991, the FDA will publish proposed regulations on descriptors, health claims, and serving size. SNE's Task Force on Food Labeling, 203
• Members who contribute at least $25 to the 25th Anniversary Growth Fund will be acknowledged as Supporting Contributors . • Members who become Sustaining Contributors by making gifts of $500 or more will be acknowledged in the Journal of Nutrition Education. Hopefully you have already actively supported one or more of the facets of this plan. However, if you chose not to renew your own membership and chose not to recruit at least one new member or donate to the fund-raising campaign, you have cast your vote in favor of restructuring or dissolving the Society for Nutrition Education. There is still time for you to change that vote-but you must act now. The situation is urgent and the campaign has only about two months remaining to yield the revenue required to maintain the Society. In December, this column will carry a progress report on the campaign that will be written in October. In the February issue, I will provide information on the outcomes of the campaign and the action taken by the Executive Board based on those outcomes. Please join me in ensuring that the report will be a positive one by renewing your membership now, if you have not already done so, by recruiting another new member even if you have already recruited one or more, and by making a contribution to the 25th Anniversary Growth Fund.
Barbara M. Shannon, PhD, RD President 1991-1992 headed by Laurie Quint-Adler, responded regularly to FDA's food and nutrition labeling proposals. You should monitor the Federal Register or call SNE's Public Policy Office to locate current food and nutrition proposals, and then send your individual comments to the FDA before the indicated deadline. SNE serves on the Coordinating Committee of the Food and Nutrition Labeling Group that is urging the USDA to formulate meat and poultry labeling rules consistent with FDA regulations for other foods. This fall, the Society will testify in support of legislation that would harmonize the Federal Trade Commission's rules on nutrition health claims in ads with those of the FDA. The new Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Edward Madigan, has identified nutrition education for
204
FROM SNE
children and low-income families as one of four priorities for his administration. He wants USDA nutrition publications to target recipients of USDA food programs. Madigan has withheld publication of the Eating Right Pyramid, initially designed for adults, until a Cambridge research firm can test the pyramid and other graphics for use with children. Two SNE members serve on the advisory board for this study. Just as in years past, when SNE members persuaded Congress to establish the Nutrition Education and Training Program (NET), SNE's Washington office persuasively lobbied for increased funding for nutrition education initiatives this year. SNE has secured a $2.Sm increase (a total of $lOm for FY 92) for NET, and maintained current funding of $60. Sm for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP). SNE members Gordon Odermann and Jane Voichick prepared
testimony on NET and EFNEP, respectively, and SNE submitted their reports to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees. Nutrition educators should continue to encourage residents of their communities to send letters to Congress and the USDA describing how NET and EFNEP work and how additional funds will be used. The 102nd Congress has reauthorized the Older Americans Act (OAA) and adopted two new nutrition-related provisions: 1) congregate meal sites may operate in public schools; and 2) the Administration of Aging (AoA) must employ a credentialed nutritionist to ensure that meals meet one-third of the RDA requirements and to educate OAA recipients on the importance of following the Dietary Guidelines. SNE lobbied to expand the definition of a credentialed nutritionist as one who has passed a state or national examination for registration
or certification, or who is a registered dietitian to include an individual with a graduate degree from an accredited nutrition program. Contact your local AoA office to determine how you can provide nutrition education to older people and evaluate the nutritional quality of the meals served in your community. Lastly, SNE spear-headed an effort to appoint qualified nutritionists and other professionals to the National Nutrition Monitoring Advisory Board. Congratulations to SNE member, Bettie Sue Greig, Senator Dole's appointment to this Board!
Nancy Chapman, M.P.H., RD. Director of Public Policy, SNE 1629 K St., NW, Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20006 202-659-1858 FAX 202-331-4212