IDFA Blog

World Milk Day is the perfect day to remind our communities how choosing milk is so important for good nutrition and health, and it’s a message we can share all month long, says Michelle Matto, RDN, IDFA nutrition consultant. In a new blog, Matto highlights the importance of June as a time for the industry to celebrate the variety and versatility of nutritious dairy products, especially when most Americans don’t consume the daily amount of dairy servings recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Read More

March is National Nutrition Month, a perfect time for both consumers and nutrition professionals to celebrate the nutrient density of dairy products, according to Michelle Matto, IDFA's labeling and nutrition consultant. In her recent blog, Matto encourages dairy companies to remind consumers about dairy products, their essential nutrients and their important role in a healthy eating pattern. She also recommends taking time this month to thank Registered Dietitian Nutritionists in the industry for their work in helping Americans choose healthful foods and beverages. Companies can engage in the social media celebration with #NationalNutritionMonth. Read More

In this blog, Michelle Matto, IDFA’s nutrition and labeling consultant, outlines the implications for dairy in the recent report by the committee charged to review the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). The report, which serves as a resource for any final changes to the program made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, offered recommendations that would increase flexibility and options for dairy foods but would reduce amounts of some products allowed in the program. If USDA starts a rulemaking process to update the WIC package, IDFA will be sure to engage and comment. Read More

The definition of “healthy” for product claims is under review at the Food and Drug Administration and changes are in the making, says Michelle Matto, IDFA’s nutrition and labeling consultant, in this week’s Nutrition Notes blog. FDA regulations currently state that a food product must meet limits for fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium, while also providing minimum levels of certain vitamins and minerals before it’s considered healthy. But recent guidance and a request for comments from FDA indicate a formal change may be coming. She asks members to share their definitions of healthy to help shape IDFA’s comments and FDA’s decision. Read More

Michelle Matto, IDFA’s consultant on nutrition and labeling, notes the nutritional value of school meals and snacks in her September blog post. “In fact, school meals are, on average, healthier than the packed lunches that many parents send with their students, providing more fruits, vegetables and dairy,” she said, referring to a nutritional comparison of lunches featured in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Read More