In response to a January letter to university leaders from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., about 1/4 of U.S. medical schools agreed to add 40 hours of nutrition education to their programs in their Fall 2026 curricula, focused on recommended, though not mandated, educational content. With the agreement, the schools were to be given public recognition and potential access to a $5 million fund dedicated to supporting “medical schools, nursing residency, nutrition science, and dietician programs that integrate nutrition education into their curricula” – with other schools potentially subject to funding cuts.
While some of the curriculum’s 71 core nutrition competencies reflect recommendations from the 2024 JAMA Consensus Statement, the program has been subject to debate as some of the competencies have little scientific basis. Many universities are loathe to allowing federal dictates in their programs, feel they already have sufficient nutrition education, or see dietitians as the better purveyor of nutrition advice and patient care in this area.
There also is some question as to how the 40 hours was determined, particularly as it is a significant increase in what the HHS release noted as the current average of nutrition education received of 1.2 hours. The increase not only means the development of new curricula and classes in less than 6 months, but also the hiring of nutritionists to instruct the classes, the potential development of nutrition departments, etc. Given even the 53 committed schools, $5 million is unlikely to go far; should more sign on, the amounts will be further depleted.
There is also the argument that the root of the problem is not lack of physician education, it’s patient implementation of nutrition recommendations. Perhaps the funding should be dedicated to elementary and high schools to better instill nutritional eating habits at early ages; as well as a focus on areas such as screening for food insecurity and community access to nutritious and safe food as were also identified in the 2024 JAMA report.
There is certainly a need for more nutritious eating by Americans, but whether the onus should be put on medical doctors, dietitians, or consumers themselves is up for debate. It’s likely a combination of the three, with each focused on their core expertise and self-knowledge.
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Public Health News:
- CDC has issued a Travel Advisory for 32 Countries, including several in Europe, over the spread of polio. It is recommended that travelers verify their vaccination status before travel to these areas.
- The first case of wild poliovirus type 1 in 2026 was detected in a four-year-old child in Sindh, Pakistan. For perspective, this review stated that “Pakistan is still one of only two countries with continuous transmission of the wild poliovirus and active cases of poliomyelitis rendering millions of children with threat of lifelong disability.” This is primarily due to gaps in vaccination campaigns. At least 30 wild type polio cases are typically reported annually in Pakistan.
- Consumer Reports Tested 41 Baby Formulas for Lead and Arsenic with results showing that about half of the samples had concerning levels. The report publicizes names of formulas which may help parents in making decisions.
- Research indicates that children under two hospitalized with COVID-19 are five times more likely to face serious illness or death than those with RSV.
- A laboratory-confirmed case of Chikungunya was reported in Saint Lucia, the first since 2021, amid a broader regional resurgence. The patient was hospitalized for four days and has fully recovered. No additional cases have been reported since. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an epidemiological alert for the Americas in February 2026 due to rising chikungunya cases, with ongoing outbreaks documented in Cuba, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname to better ensure detection and interventions.
- Sudan’s 18-month outbreak of cholera, which resulted in over 100,000 cases and 2,408 deaths, has officially ended, since no additional cases have been reported since January 14, 2026.
