Dietary Guidelines Committee Strays into Sustainability Territory

Dairy and meat industry interests have reportedly expressed concern that
the federal advisory committee tasked with revising U.S. dietary guidelines,
a project undertaken every five years, may be poised to prioritize production
methods as a means of addressing sustainability issues. The Dietary Guidelines
Advisory Committee apparently discussed in a recent round of public
meetings whether eating more plants and fewer animals would provide
environmental benefits. A subcommittee chair, identified as Tufts University
Nutrition Professor Miriam Nelson, was quoted as saying, “Our hope within
our subcommittee is that we’ll at least provide some background. All of us
want to maintain healthy eating and have that food supply for years to come.”
She also reportedly indicated that the subcommittee is looking into beef and
dairy production methods, as well as organic versus conventional growing
methods. The advisory committee is expected to present its report to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services in
early 2015, and those agencies will use it to develop final guidelines. See CQ
Roll Call, January 17, 2014.

Issue 511