Overview

Outlined below is a recap on engagement around the first half of the White House Conference on Hunger, with over 12,500 mentions thus far, as well as 8,200 specific mentions using the hashtag #WHConfHungerHealth.

The bulk of the discussion has centered on real-time updates related to remarks from President Biden, Secretary Vilsack, and voices participating in the various pillar discussions, with limited segues into broader policy or solutions as of yet, as well as general amplification of news articles on the kick off of the conference.

Heaviest areas of conversation have included a focus on ending hunger, with a specific focus on childhood hunger and nutrition. This discussion includes connection points from organizations and thought leaders discussing commitments to make more children eligible for free, healthy lunch – as well as discussion on SNAP benefits, nutritious offerings within what’s available on those benefits, improving access to healthy alternatives, and solutions to tackle diet-based disease broadly.

Conversation is primarily being driven from participating organizations (many of which were noted in previous recap reports), health, ag, and food-focused reporters, government accounts amplifying the White House’s messaging, and celebrity chefs participating in the conversation around ending hunger and healthy options. Organizations are using the conference trend to broadly touch on their own platforms or policy solutions – but that has been the extent of nuance discussion on those issues thus far.

Separately, significant discussion arose around a gaffe from President Biden, who mistakenly looked for Representative Jackie Walorski, who passed away in August, in the audience. This initially drove an uptick on conference-specific hashtags, but has since broadened out to its own trend online.

Finally, specific discussion on sugar, sugar-sweetened beverages, and related issues has been minimal – but we anticipate more discussion following upcoming panels and after-action engagement related to nutrition and diet-based disease once the conference ends.

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Top Themes

• Healthy Eating and Nutrition

• Children’s Nutrition & Childhood Hunger

• SNAP Benefits

• Ending Hunger

Top Audiences

• Medical Professionals / Celebrity Chefs

• Policymakers

• Reporters and News Outlets

• Relevant Groups and Organizations

Metrics

Results Over Time

Over the course of the afternoon, there have been over 12,500+ social engagements related to the White House Conference, with a significant uptick in conversation around 11:15 when President Biden mistakenly looked for recently passed Representative Jackie Walorski in the audience. Additionally, conversation sustained after noon, when the second national pillar panel sessions started. Conversation continues to increase today – with mentions from politicians and audiences attending the conference.

Sentiment of Conversation

The sentiment on the topic of the White House Conference has been mostly neutral and positive, with the bulk of the conversation focusing on statements of ending hunger and improving child nutrition in schools. Negative engagement around the conference or its focus currently remains relatively low.

Results found via TalkWalker