by Stephanie K. Goodwin, PhD, MPH, RD, is a nutrition and public health expert with a focus on national food and nutrition policy. Currently, she works for Danone North America to help advance the company’s mission to bring health by feeding as many people as possible through partnerships, public policy, and national initiatives.
Improving access to plant-based foods to drive better nutritional outcomes
By Stephanie Goodwin, Director, Nutrition Policy, Danone North America
There is no doubt that the food system in America needs to be improved. Food insecurity is increasing – a USDA 2023 Report on Household Food Security found that 17 million households are food insecure (up from 13.5 million the previous year). Due to rising prices and supply chain issues, as well as an increase in diet-related diseases, access to food and health through food is a major issue, especially for underserved communities.
Americans are realizing that something has to change— in their diets and in society in general. Danone’s 2023 State of Nutrition Equality Study found that one in four Americans do not have a positive view of the state of nutrition equality in the US, and are calling for action from food manufacturers and the government. to enact change.
Many have turned to plant-based foods, recognizing that they can help build nutritious eating patterns, as recommended by the US dietary guidelines for Americans. However, plant-based foods are not always accessible; many plant-based foods are not included in our US federal food and nutrition assistance programs.
To drive meaningful change, all stakeholders, including nutrition and health organizations, the food and beverage industry, and government must work together to improve access to plant-based foods. We need to adapt to the growing plant-based market and modernize our approach to include plant-based foods in federal food and nutrition assistance programs.
Increase in plant-based & flexitarianism
“Flexitarianism,” which includes a combination of both animal and plant foods, is a popular diet (98% of consumers who buy plant-based protein alternatives, they also buy animal meat) among younger generations who are taking a more holistic approach to health and thinking about the impact of what they eat on their health and on the health of the planet. Plant-based foods such as soymilk, oat milk, almondmilk and their yogurt counterparts are becoming more popular and accessible to Americans compared to even five years ago, helping to support this trend – but there is still work to be done.
Policies needed to improve access to nutritious plant-based foods
As a company on a mission to to bring health through food to as many people and possible, Danone recognizes the power of federal nutrition programs – like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). For over 10 years, Danone North America has been a proud advocate and contributor to WIC, and many of our products are eligible through the program. Earlier this year, we supported the new USDA Food Package Rulewhich enables families to access more plant-based products such as an alternative to Silk soymilk yogurt through the program.
These changes are a great start, but these programs require continued modernization and flexibility to meet the changing nutritional needs of the population – while maintaining strong nutritional standards. For example, recently by the Plant-Based Foods Association (PBFA). Recommended Rolling Framework encourage innovation in plant-based products and support the development and availability of new plant-based foods. As a leader in plant-based innovation, Danone North America actively supports this project, which demonstrates our commitment to bringing health through food to as many people as possible.
Increased collaboration between the food industry and government
Improved collaboration among all stakeholders, including those implementing these policies, would drive even greater action and impact. The private and public sectors can work together by:
- Partnership on Nutritional Standards: The government and food experts/scientists could better partner to ensure that nutritional standards are set based on the latest scientific evidence. From there, the industry can work to create specific foods that meet these standards.
- Collaboration on Research and Innovation Projects: This may include new studies or the development of new technologies or methods to improve overall nutritional value. At Danone, we’re laser-focused on research and innovation so we can bring the highest quality nutritional value to our products, including developing plant-based options that don’t sacrifice taste.
- Encouraging Education Campaigns: Companies can help expand government efforts by leveraging their platforms to educate the public on healthy habits. During the historic White House conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, Danone North America committed $15M by 2030 to additional nutrition education. These types of projects can have a big impact.
Improving access to plant-based foods requires a multifaceted approach including policy changes and industry innovation. However, there also needs to be a clear demand for these products from federal food and nutrition program participants for change to occur. So shout from the rooftops, tell your local and federal government, schools and retailers that you want to see more plant-based options – and more access to them.
