Senate bill introduced based on research of Global Food Research Program

Senators Sanders (I-VT) and Booker (D-NJ) introduced a Senate bill on childhood diabetes that was based on research from the UNC Global Food Research Program as well as Lindsey Smith Taillie’s testimony in the Senate last December. Taillie is a Faculty Fellow at CPC. She recently authored an op-ed on the bill, which was published The Hill.

The Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act would establish a first-of-its-kind federal ban on junk food advertising targeted to children in the United States, requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to implement strong health and nutrient warning labeling, directs the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate the dangers posed by ultra-processed foods, and develops a national education campaign for children and caregivers through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“I am thrilled to see the introduction of the Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act,” said Taillie “If it were passed, this law would transform the food environment and target two of the major drivers of unhealthy diets in children, confusing food labeling and junk food marketing. This law would help make kids and families make healthier food choice.”

The Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act is endorsed by more than 20 organizations including: Center for Black Health and Equity, Center for Digital Democracy, ChangeLab Solutions, Consumer Federation of America, Corporate Accountability, Doctors for America, Global Center for Legal Innovation on Food Environments at Georgetown University, Food and Mood Centre at Deakin University, Food and Water Watch, Healthy Food America, Interfaith Public Health Network, Mamavation, National Center for Health Research, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Hispanic Health Foundation, Nourish Science, Public Citizen, Redstone Center for Prevention and Wellness at George Washington University, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health at the University of Connecticut, Society of Behavioral Medicine, Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior, The Campaign to Address the Ultra-Processed Food and Sugar Epidemic (CAUSE), and University of California Research Consortium on Beverages