American Italian Food Coalition Statement on MAHA Commission Recommendations to Improve Children’s Health

Italy’s traditional foods and lifestyle, based on moderation and balance, offer positive solutions for public health challenges.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the co-chairs of the American Italian Food Coalition (AIFC) former Member of Congress Susan Molinari and Lucy Calautti, issued the following statement on the release of the Make America Healthy Again Commission’s “Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment”:

“The American Italian Food Coalition shares the MAHA commission’s goal to enhance the health and well-being of our nation’s children, and we welcome the opportunity to be partners in this effort. We have worked with policymakers around the world to show how policies emphasizing balance and moderation, exemplified by the traditional foods and lifestyle of Italy, can have a meaningful impact on a wide range of public health challenges from obesity to mental health. We look forward to sharing our research, expertise, and experience with the Administration and to help make America healthy again.”  

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.