American Italian Food Coalition Participates in U.N. Meeting on Improving Physical and Mental Health

Positive Nutrition, Such as the Mediterranean Diet Model, Offers Better Outcomes

AIFC executive director, Jeff Shapiro, at the United Nations in New York.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the American Italian Food Coalition (AIFC) participated in a multi-stakeholder forum on improving physical and mental health as part of the United Nations’ High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases. The coalition, represented by executive director Jeff Shapiro, submitted comments urging the U.N. to uphold language from the 2018 political declaration recognizing balanced diets as the most sensible approach to nutrition rather than restrictions on certain foods or ingredients. 

On behalf of the AIFC, Shapiro wrote in part, “Our coalition supports the Mediterranean Diet model as an aspect of positive nutrition because the model offers a sustainable, holistic plan rich in a variety of foods that emphasizes moderation and lifestyle. This diet model has been linked to numerous health benefits, including a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer, supporting healthy blood pressure and cholesterol, and slowing the decline of brain function during aging.”

Co-chairs of the American Italian Food Coalition, former Member of Congress Susan Molinari and Lucy Calautti, issued the following statement:

“The Mediterranean Diet model has been recognized by UNESCO for its significant contributions to world heritage and culture. It is a lifestyle built on balance and moderation, proven to support better physical and mental health. On behalf of our more than 500 members, we are proud that the American Italian Food Coalition was able to share the positive story of Italian food and holistic approach to nutrition that could benefit people around the globe.”

In November 2023, the AIFC released a report, “Perspectives on Positive Nutrition.” The report found public health policies traditionally have promoted restrictive and reductionist approaches to diets with limited results. The report concluded that systems-based approaches, such as the Mediterranean Diet model, could help shape a healthier future.

Shapiro’s full written statement is available below:

My name is Jeff Shapiro, and I serve as the Executive Director of the American Italian Food Coalition. On behalf of our more than 500 companies, manufacturers, and trade associations, thank you for the opportunity to share our perspective.

We greatly appreciate the General Assembly’s work on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being. As you prepare the next political declaration, we strongly encourage you to use the 2018 UN High Level Meeting on NCDs as a starting point, recognizing balanced diets are the most sensible approach, rather than restrictions on certain foods or ingredients.

Specifically, we urge you to recognize that positive nutrition models, such as the Mediterranean Diet model, offer better outcomes for physical and mental health than models restricting certain foods.

In November of 2023, we released a report titled, “Perspectives on Positive Nutrition.” Our report found public health policies traditionally have promoted restrictive and reductionist approaches to diets with limited results. As explained by Dr. Roger Clemens, former president of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology and adjunct professor at the University of Southern California, there needs to be a shift away from reductionist approaches to nutrition through systems-based approaches, considering the foods eaten in totality and how all the different nutrients fit together in our daily lives.

The AIFC emphasizes making the change to systems-based approaches by transitioning away from isolated food categories in favor of evidenced-based tactics and promoting positive nutrition messaging and policy.

Our coalition supports the Mediterranean Diet model as an aspect of positive nutrition because the model offers a sustainable, holistic plan rich in a variety of foods that emphasizes moderation and lifestyle. This diet model has been linked to numerous health benefits, including a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer, supporting healthy blood pressure and cholesterol, and slowing the decline of brain function during aging.

We are not alone in our support of the Mediterranean Diet model. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 recommends a “Healthy Mediterranean-Style Dietary Pattern,” as an exemplary dietary plan. The National Institutes of Health conducted a study in October of 2023 which found “Evidence suggests that adopting a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean Diet model, can positively affect mental health.” And since 2010, the Mediterranean Diet model has been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible heritage of humanity because of its commitment to preserve tradition, land and biodiversity. 

Italian food reflects the Mediterranean Diet model, which is popular around the world and an excellent option for those looking to diversify their diets.

The American Italian Food Coalition remains committed to supporting the General Assembly’s efforts to improve mental and physical health through positive nutrition models and science-based recommendations.