By Nico Ballón

Special to The Post

Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced the National Food as Medicine Act on Wednesday. Food as Medicine affirms the connection between food and health and recognizes that access to high-quality nourishment is essential for well-being.

This legislation would reduce nutrition-related chronic diseases and food insecurity and improve health and racial equity in the United States, and would increase Americans’ access to healthy, nutritious, organic, and affordable foods, as well as behavioral services such as health coaching and nutrition counseling, especially in low-income communities.

“Good, nutritious foods are the cornerstone of good health,” said Lee. “Yet far too many Americans, especially in low-income communities and communities of color, lack access to affordable, nutritious food. A national Food as Medicine program will reduce health care costs, improve health outcomes, and improve the quality of life for generations to come, especially for patients with diet-related chronic diseases. It our responsibility to end hunger and begin to transform our “disease care system” to a true health care system. Food as Medicine is the path to do just that.”

In 2023, over 18 million U.S. households were food insecure. A landmark 2018 study demonstrated that an unhealthy diet is the leading cause of death in the United States, surpassing tobacco use, high blood pressure, and obesity, and causing more than half a million deaths per year in the United States. A growing body of research demonstrates that using healthy food, termed “medically supportive food,” in a clinical setting helps the healthcare system address food and nutrition insecurity, chronic disease, racial and health equity, and the intersections between them. This is further evidenced by work being spearheaded in Alameda County and their Recipe4Health “Food as Medicine” model.

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The National Food as Medicine Act would:

• Establish a Food as Medicine Waiver Grant program to establish, implement, and expand Food as Medicine interventions to reduce nutrition-related chronic conditions and improve health
• Establish a USDA Food as Medicine Technical Assistant Program to support producers to connect with local health care systems to provide for FAM interventions
• Direct the HHS Secretary to develop and issue Food as Medicine guidance to states and counties to aid in the implementation, planning, and expansion of Food as Medicine programs
• Require a report to Congress from the HHS Secretary regarding the impact of Food as Medicine programs

Steven Chen, chief medical officer for Alameda County Recipe4Health, said: “Alameda County Recipe4Health applauds Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s leadership to amplify the benefits of Food as Medicine through equitable sourcing, which will ensure multiple benefits such as healthy soil, nutritious food, a healthy economy, healthy people, and a healthy planet for all.

“The National Food as Medicine Program Act will prioritize food grown regeneratively and organically by a diverse group of local and regional farmers. Patients with limited financial resources will be prescribed high quality nutrient-dense food by their health care teams to treat and prevent chronic conditions and food insecurity.

“Local farmers, farmworkers, food hubs, and community-based organizations in rural and urban America will have new economic incentives to grow and provide nutritious vegetables, fruit, and meals to benefit their communities,” Chen said.

“At Alameda Health System, we commend and stand with Congresswoman Barbara Lee in her efforts to champion the vital role of Food as Medicine and promote equitable access to healthy and nutritious food,” said James Jackson, CEO of Alameda Health System. “Food insecurity disproportionately impacts low-income communities and communities of color. In Alameda County, we have partnered with the Alameda County Health and community farmers to address those health disparities by offering patients a prescription for healthy, nutritious, locally grown foods. communities.”

Alameda County Health Director Colleen Chawla said she was incredibly grateful to Lee for her unwavering support of their Food as Medicine Program, Recipe4Health. Alameda County has been a leader in the Food as Medicine space for years, and Recipe4Health is a prime example of how innovative programs can reduce food insecurity and improve health outcomes.

Nico Ballón is a member of the staff of Rep. Barbara Lee’s media relations office.

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