FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb Delivers Nutrition Speech at National Food Policy Conference4/4/2018
Dear Colleagues -- On Thursday, March 29, Commissioner Scott Gottlieb delivered a speech at the National Food Policy Conference. The speech can be found here. We have read it carefully. I also attach a brief note from Trish Knight (below) summarizing key points, many with which we fully agree. Highlights include:
We think there is much to agree with, and so we sent the attached letter to the Commissioner thanking him for addressing these important issues, and that we will work to support these and other meaningful changes to improve consumer trust, transparency, and access to high quality, clean foods. Best regards, LDI From: Patricia Knight <PKnight@knight-cap.us> To: "'Loren Israelsen (loren@unpa.com)'" <loren@unpa.com>; 'Larisa Pavlick' <larisa@unpa.com>; "Frank Lampe (frank@unpa.com)" <frank@unpa.com>; Peter Reinecke <peter@rssinc.us> Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2018 12:12 PM Subject: FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb Delivers Nutrition Speech at National Food Policy Conference We thought you might be interested in this speech Cmmr Gottlieb gave today on the FDA’s Nutrition Innovation Strategy. We might think how our interests could align with this initiative. See excerpt from Gottlieb’s speech below: Modernizing Ingredient Labels A second prong of our plan is to re-evaluate the ingredient information on food packages. Consumers want “clean labels” that are readable and understandable. Manufacturers are taking this consumer preference seriously, and FDA has a role here as well. We’re considering what changes could make ingredient information more consumer friendly. In addition to readability, this includes considering whether simpler alternative names for certain ingredients could be used so they are more understandable. For example, we could consider whether use of the name “vitamin B6” for “pyridoxine” and “vitamin B12” for “cyanocobalamin” might help people better understand what’s in their food. As always, public health implications will be included as we consider whether simpler names for ingredients could be used. One such proposed change is in front of us right now. We’ve been petitioned to allow the use of alternative names for “potassium chloride” – to make it clear that this product is a salt -- and we’re actively considering this request. The petitioner argued that some consumers associate the term “chloride” with chlorine bleach and consequently avoid foods that have “potassium chloride” in the ingredient list. The petitioner urged FDA to consider how naming might encourage industry to replace some sodium chloride with potassium chloride, which could provide public health benefits. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Constituent Update View Past Updates FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb Delivers Nutrition Speech at National Food Policy Conference March 29, 2018 FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb today spoke at the National Food Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., announcing the kickoff of the FDA Nutrition Innovation Strategy. The strategy promotes public health through improved nutrition, encouraging industry innovation to create healthier products that consumers seek and helping consumers identify those products. In the speech, entitled "Reducing the Burden of Chronic Disease," Commissioner Gottlieb explained how the FDA is exploring how to support industry initiatives to introduce products that meet consumer demands for healthier foods. The FDA has identified several areas where it believes there is opportunity to improve public health and encourage innovation – claims on labels, information about ingredients in food, and standards of identity. As the strategy takes shape, FDA will provide opportunities for public input. For Additional Information: 
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