While ‘Food is Medicine’ (FIM) programmes are widely recognised as powerful interventions, they only reach a fraction of those who could benefit.

Through the new public-private partnership, HHS and the Rockefeller Foundation aim to improve health outcomes and health equity by helping the broader public improve their knowledge of nutrition and expand collective understanding of FIM interventions and their impacts. The two bodies will also explore ways to scale successful FIM programmes to reach more eligible Americans.

“We know good food is the foundation of good health, and study after study has found Food is Medicine interventions can make people healthier while reducing healthcare costs,” said Dr Rajiv J. Shah, president of the Rockefeller Foundation. “I’m proud The Rockefeller Foundation will be collaborating with HHS to help improve health outcomes and advance health equity by ensuring Food is Medicine interventions reach those who stand to benefit from them most.”

Through the partnership, HHS and the Rockefeller Foundation will exchange information and ideas to:

• advance and capitalise on research design and findings through knowledge to produce definitive evidence on clinical health outcomes, cost effectiveness, and optimal programme design;
• engage a broader public audience in the meaning and value of FIM interventions and resources;
• support FIM adoption by identifying opportunities and barriers to support greater uptake and scaling; and
• ensure FIM supports diverse individuals and communities with a focus on health equity.

“HHS and The Rockefeller Foundation are working together to accelerate food-as-medicine adoption in various health systems and communities,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “We’re eager to build on this dynamic opportunity and we anticipate powerful outcomes through collaborative action.

“One of our shared priorities is to engage the public in understanding food is medicine. We seek to help accelerate interventions and build strategies to expand successful programmes to more eligible Americans. The Biden-Harris Administration is using every lever available to drive new innovations in policy and deliver durable solutions that improve our health.”

The Rockefeller Foundation has also pledged to increase its total commitment to advancing FIM programmes to more than $100 million. This includes up to $51 million to the American Heart Association to increase understanding about the health and economic outcomes of FIM programmes in diverse populations across the United States.

The partnership with HHS is the Rockefeller Foundation’s second with the US Government to expand domestic Food is Medicine programmes. In April last year, it announced a collaboration with the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to support two produce prescription pilots and associated research pilots at VA healthcare systems in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Houston, Texas.