October 10, 2011--Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recently announced the establishment of dockets to collect comments, data, and evidence relevant to the dietary intake of sodium. 

They are interested in current and emerging approaches that promote sodium reduction.  The agencies would like to see research that will help organizations understand current and emerging practices by industry in sodium reduction in foods; current consumer understanding of the role of sodium in hypertension and other chronic illnesses, sodium consumption practices; motivation and barriers in reducing sodium in their food intakes; and issues associated with the development of targets for sodium reduction in foods to promote reduction of excess sodium intake.

The School Nutrition Association plans to formulate and submit comments in response to this notice.  Please email cschuchart@schoolnutrition.org if you have comments you would like included within SNA’s comments, or you are welcome to submit your own comments as well. 

The submission deadline is: November 29, 2011.

Electronic comments may be submitted online at: http://www.regulations.gov.

To read the detailed Federal Register Notice and for information about submitting comments see: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-15/html/2011-23753.htm

Federal Register: FNS Requesting Comments on Indirect Costs
The Food and Nutrition Service division of the US Department of Agriculture is requesting comments on an indirect cost study. The study is required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 to assess the extent to which school food authorities (SFAs) participating in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs pay indirect costs.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions that were used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

SNA is currently formulating comments for submission and members are also encouraged to send in comments, either to SNA or directly to FNS.

Submission must be made by December 6,2011. Comments may be sent to: John Endahl, Senior Program Analyst, Office of Research and Analysis, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1004, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the attention of John Endahl at 703-305-2576, via email to john.endahl@fns.usda.gov or through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.

On October 5, School Nutrition Association President Helen Phillips, SNS, was interviewed by food expert Phil Lempert on his Food News Today web broadcast. The interview covered everything from healthy trends in school cafeterias to SNA’s National School Lunch Week “School Lunch – Let’s Grow Healthy” campaign. To watch the interview, click on the link below:http://www.foodnewstoday.com/episode-0049.html