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 bring the company’s mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible through partnerships, public policy, and national initiatives.
Improving access to plant-based foods to drive better nutrition outcomes
By Stephanie Goodwin, Director, Nutrition Policy, Danone North America
There is no doubt that the food system in America needs to improve. Food insecurity is on the rise – a 2023 USDA Report on Household Food Security found that 17 million households are food insecure (up from 13.5 million the year prior). Rising prices and supply chain issues, along with an increase in diet-related diseases, have made food access and health through food a major topic, especially for underserved communities.
Americans are realizing that something needs to change—both in their diets and in society at large. Danone’s 2023 State of Nutrition Equality Study found that one in four Americans does not hold a positive outlook on the state of nutrition equality in the US, and they are looking for action from food manufacturers and the government to enact change.
Many have turned to plant-based foods, recognizing they can help build nutritious dietary patterns, as recommended by the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans. However, plant-based foods are not always accessible; our US federal food and nutrition assistance programs do not include many plant-based foods.
To drive meaningful change, all stakeholders, including nutrition and health organizations, the food and beverage industry, and government need to work together to improve access to plant-based foods. We must adapt to the growing plant-based marketplace and modernize our approach to include plant-based foods in the federal food and nutrition assistance programs.
The rise of plant-based & flexitarianism
“Flexitarianism,” which includes a combination of both animal- and plant-based foods, is a diet gaining popularity (98% of consumers who buy plant-based protein alternatives also buy animal meat) among younger generations who are taking a more holistic approach to health and considering how what they eat impacts their health and the health of the planet. Plant-based foods like soymilk, oatmilk, almondmilk and their yogurt counterparts have become increasingly popular and more accessible to Americans compared to even five years ago, helping to boost this trend – but there is still work to do.
Policies necessary to improve access to nutritious plant-based foods
As a company on a mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible, Danone recognizes the power federal nutrition programs have – like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). For over 10 years, Danone North America has been a proud advocate of and contributor to WIC, with many of our products eligible through the program. Earlier this year, we supported the USDA’s new Food Package Rule, which enables families to access more plant-based products such as Silk’s soymilk yogurt alternative through the program.
These changes are a great start, but continued modernization and flexibility in these programs are essential to meet the evolving dietary needs of the population – while also maintaining strong nutrition standards. For example, the Plant-Based Foods Association (PBFA) recently proposed a Rolling Framework to 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 proposal, demonstrating our commitment to bring health through food to as many people as possible.
Increased collaboration between the food industry and government
Enhanced collaboration among all stakeholders, including those who are implementing these policies, would drive even greater action and impact. The private and public sectors can work together by:
- Partnering on Nutrition Standards: Government and food experts/scientists could better partner to ensure nutrition standards are set based on the latest scientific evidence. From there, the industry can work to create specific foods that meet these standards.
- Collaborating on Research and Innovation Projects: This could include a new study or developing 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.
- Boosting Educational Campaigns: Companies can help extend the government’s efforts by leveraging their platforms to educate the public on healthy habits. During the White House’s historic conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, Danone North America committed $15M by 2030 to further 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, your schools and your retailers that you want to see a variety of plant-based options – and more access to them.
