The American Bakers Association (ABA) held its 2010 policy conference meeting in June, with the board of directors holding its summer meeting in conjunction with the Allied Trades of the Baking Industry board of directors. Joining the discussion at this year’s conference were several members of Congress, as well as Kevin Concannon, the USDA undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services.

ABA events included the nutrition policy forum, “The Childhood Obesity/Hunger Paradox: How to Win on Both Fronts,” which saw three members of the House Agriculture Committee discussing their views on nutrition and obesity issues. Representatives from the Grain Foods Foundation (GFF) and nonprofit Share Our Strength spoke about their groups’ partnership and the push to eliminate childhood hunger while also tackling rising obesity.

Representative John Kline (R-Minn.), the ranking minority member of the House Education and Labor Committee, spoke about current labor issues, including the pending Employee Free Choice Act, and Representative Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), member of both the House Agriculture and Education and Labor Committees, discussed the consequences of health care reform.