ASTA Comments on USDA Proposed Revisions to Child Nutrition Programs
ASTA submitted comments to the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in April 2023 regarding the USDA's Child Nutrition Programs: Revisions to Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Proposed Rule. The comments highlight the important role spices and herbs play in promoting healthy, diverse eating patterns and in celebrating cultural heritage, which is shown through a growing body of research to have a strong potential to improve health. Comments request an exemption for spices from the "Buy American" provision of the proposed rule.
04/14/2023 at 5:15 am
1
Related Resources
ASTA Comments to FDA on Proposed Rule Defining the Term "Healthy"
This is ASTA's comment letter on the FDA's proposed rule defining the term "Healthy." ASTA's comments summarize the body of evidence on the health benefits of spices and the role of spices in promoting the consumption of nutritious foods. ASTA requests the inclusion of spices in the FDA's final "healthy" definition to promote alignment with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
ASTA Comments on FDA's Front-of-Package (FOP) Nutrition Labeling Proposed Rule
On July 15, 2025, ASTA submitted comments in response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) proposed rule titled "Food Labeling: Front-of-Package Nutrition Information." ASTA's comments urge FDA to revise the proposed rule to exempt spice and herbs with insufficient nutrient content in intermediate packages from the proposed FOP labeling requirement, reconcile inconsistencies between the nutrient content claim regulations and interpretive markers, and consider alternative compliance pathways for FOP labeling on these products.
