The dairy industry was well represented last week at the Partnership for a Healthier America’s (PHA) “Building a Healthier Future Summit” in Washington, D.C. Touted as one of the nation’s premiere gatherings of health experts, policy makers and business and industry leaders committed to ending childhood obesity, the summit brought together key players in the food industry, including IDFA, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, Danone, Nestlé and Wal-Mart.

IDFA and the National Dairy Council both sponsored the summit’s “Fit to Celebrate” dinner, which focused on the five-year anniversary of PHA’s efforts to combat childhood obesity. Also attending the dinner were representatives from Dean Foods Company, Mars Inc., Kraft Foods, General Mills, Feeding America and the Milk Processors Education Program (MilkPEP), as well as many other food and beverage companies.

Michelle Obama Mentions Importance of Milk

First Lady Michelle Obama, who is the honorary chairwoman of PHA, delivered the keynote address. In addition to announcing the launching of FNV, a new marketing campaign promoting the consumption of fruits and vegetables, the First Lady highlighted the importance of drinking nonfat milk as part of a healthy lifestyle.

The First Lady also noted the food industry’s success in helping to decrease childhood obesity rates. “Today, according to a recent CDC report that I know you have all discussed, obesity rates have fallen by 43 percent among children ages two to five years old. And I think we should all be very proud of what we are achieving together, because in a fight this hard, we should celebrate every small victory we can get.”

IDFA continues to play an active role in combatting childhood obesity by ensuring that dairy remains an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

For more information about the PHA Summit or IDFA’s nutrition efforts, contact Ruth Saunders, IDFA vice president of policy and legislative affairs, at rsaunders@idfa.org.