APHA
supports legislation to bring more healthy foods
to vulnerable communities
WASHINGTON, May 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- The American Public Health Association (APHA)
announced its support for legislation introduced
today by U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) to expand access
to affordable healthy foods for at-risk
populations, such as school children, low-income
senior citizens and families living in
underserved areas.
"The Food Outreach and
Opportunity Development (FOOD) for a Healthy
America Act aims to counteract the increase in
diet-related chronic illnesses, including
diabetes and heart disease," said Georges C.
Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (Emeritus), executive
director of the American Public Health
Association. "Poor diets result in poorer
health, shorter life spans and rising health
costs. Individuals in lower-income neighborhoods
may lack transportation to supermarkets that
sell fresh fruits and vegetables and other
healthy foods, leading to higher levels of
obesity, diseases and other health ailments."
APHA also supports the
bill's proposal to create and broaden programs
to help communities develop farmers' markets,
roadside stands and other activities to make
fresh fruits and vegetables available to
residents. The bill also provides resources that
would make healthy foods more affordable to
people such as providing coupons to low-income
seniors to buy fresh produce at farmers' markets
and other community agriculture programs. In
addition, APHA supports the Local Food and Farm
Support Act, introduced today by U.S. Rep. Earl
Blumenauer (D-Ore.).
"All people deserve access
to the foods they need to develop and maintain
good health," Benjamin said. "We urge the Senate
Agriculture Committee to incorporate this
important public health legislation into the
larger 'Farm Bill' that is scheduled for
Congress's renewal this year."
Founded in 1872, the APHA
is the oldest, largest and most diverse
organization of public health professionals in
the world. The association aims to protect all
Americans and their communities from
preventable, serious health threats and strives
to assure community-based health promotion and
disease prevention activities and preventive
health services are universally accessible in
the United States. APHA represents a broad array
of health providers, educators,
environmentalists, policy-makers and health
officials at all levels working both within and
outside governmental organizations and
educational institutions. More information is
available at
http://www.apha.org/.
