Standardizing Medically Tailored Meals

Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Nicholas Florko
Published on 2024-03-27 14:00:30

The use of food as a treatment for medical conditions is gaining traction, with food corporations, grocery stores, and tech companies all claiming involvement in this movement. To standardize these efforts, the Food is Medicine Coalition, a group of community-based nonprofit food providers, has released a 32-page accreditation standard focused on medically tailored meals. These meals are prepared for specific conditions, such as HIV and heart failure, and must meet stringent requirements.

One key requirement is that organizations must have one accredited full-time dietitian on staff for every 1,000 clients served. Additionally, accredited organizations cannot serve foods with artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or anything considered “ultra-processed.” Cooking methods must focus on preserving the nutrient value of the food, such as baking, braising, and sautéing instead of frying.

The coalition’s goal is to establish clear guidelines for “food is medicine” interventions to avoid confusion and ensure effectiveness. Without defined interventions, there is a risk of implementing subpar interventions that may lead to poor outcomes and ultimately the abandonment of the entire project.

The accreditation standard was developed over a year by a committee of agencies across the country in collaboration with SCS Standards, a nonprofit known for developing rules for various industries. The standard was approved by the coalition’s advisory board after pilot testing. The accreditation process will involve an on-site audit and is tied to membership in the coalition, with membership fees ranging from $2,500 to $6,250 based on the organization’s size.

Despite the importance of the standardization effort, certain elements of the accreditation guidelines may stir controversy. The prohibition on ultra-processed foods, for example, has sparked debate among nutritionists and dietitians, some of whom question the validity of the term and its impact on healthy foods like bread. The standard allows for exceptions based on the NOVA classification system, which means certain foods labeled as ultra-processed may still be served.

Furthermore, the standard requires accredited service providers to be nonprofits, excluding for-profit meal providers from obtaining accreditation. The coalition believes that nonprofit organizations play a crucial role in advancing the food is medicine movement and ensuring high-quality, accessible interventions for those in need.

Overall, the Food is Medicine Coalition’s accreditation standard aims to define and uphold the integrity of food-based interventions in healthcare. By establishing clear guidelines and requirements, the coalition seeks to enhance the quality and accessibility of medically tailored meals and grocery interventions, ultimately improving health outcomes for individuals in need.