White House Conference Highlights Importance of Nutrition Policy

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022, the White House is hosting a National Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health with the specific goal of ending hunger and increasing healthy eating and physical activity by 2030, so that fewer Americans experience diet-related diseases like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.

These conditions are all common precursors to kidney disease, so NKF is particularly interested in the outcome of this important conference. The first White House conference on this topic, hosted by President Nixon in 1969, led to the creation of important initiatives like school lunches, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and improvements to food labeling. 

Recommendations Submitted on Behalf of Kidney Community

NKF has delivered comments to the Conference on the importance of nutrition and food access for kidney patients. You can view the statement here, in which NKF asks the Administration to:

• Pass the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act;
• Mandate phosphorus labeling on foods;
• Expand access to Medically Tailored Meals;
• Focus on maternal nutrition as an indicator of child kidney health, and;
• Work with community organizations like NKF to fight food insecurity, especially among patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

The statement also notes that “CKD is a prime example where food security interventions can drive significantly better health outcomes. Increased access to healthier, tailored food offerings can help patients with CKD” in myriad ways.

We invite NKF advocates to participate in the conference and share their stories of the impact of nutrition on their kidney journey.