Expressing support for the designation of September 14, 2025, as "National Food is Medicine Day".
H. Res. 712 is a non-binding House resolution introduced in the 119th Congress that expresses support for designating September 14, 2025, as “National Food is Medicine Day.” The resolution emphasizes that nutritious food plays a crucial role in health and that “food is medicine” interventions—such as medically tailored meals, groceries, and produce combined with nutrition and cooking education—can help prevent, manage, and treat certain health conditions. It frames these interventions as potentially cost-saving when integrated with a secure, nutritious diet and existing clinical care, and it calls for action by federal agencies to advance the evidence base and implementation of food-as-medicine approaches. Specifically, the resolution urges the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to sustain and expand scientific research on food as medicine, to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to maximize impact, and to scale appropriate uses of food-as-medicine programs in partnership with patients, nonprofit organizations, and private sector providers and payors. As a resolution, it is a symbolic, policy-advocacy measure rather than a law or funded program, aimed at raising awareness and guiding future policy discussions and actions.
Key Points
- 1The House expresses support for designation of September 14, 2025, as “National Food is Medicine Day.”
- 2The bill highlights that nutritious food is essential to health and that food-as-medicine interventions can complement clinical care to prevent, manage, and treat certain conditions.
- 3It notes that such interventions may include medically tailored meals, groceries, and produce, paired with nutrition and culinary education, as part of a patient’s treatment plan.
- 4It argues that food-as-medicine approaches can be cost-effective and, in some cases, reduce overall healthcare costs by addressing diet-related chronic diseases.
- 5It urges HHS to sustain and expand scientific research on food as medicine, collaborate with USDA to leverage its role, and scale appropriate use of food-as-medicine in collaboration with patients and healthcare providers, payors, nonprofits, and private industry.