James Beard Awards will now require chefs to show a social-justice commitment

In what might be the biggest shift for the longtime awards program, entrants will no longer be evaluated solely on their output — for chefs, that would be the food that appears on diner’s plates, or for food media, their stories and segments. Entrants must include a written, video, or audio statement about how their work aligns with the awards’ mission and values of equity, sustainability and community.