Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Finishes Work

Concerns about an overweight population can be slimmed down with new Dietary Guidelines that help point people toward healthful eating choices, such as lean beef and meats that pack nutrient dense bundles.  While some may be concerned about reducing the number of calories we eat, Americans must also learn to eat calories that count nutritionally.

NCBA, in written comments on Aug. 3, told the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee that by not dealing with deficiencies in iron and zinc in the new Guidelines, there is a gap in the Advisory Committee’s recommendations.  NCBA is urging the inclusion of advice to eat “lean meat and protein sources” to address the iron and zinc deficiencies.  Also, the new Guidelines must help instruct major sub-populations to choose foods with a micronutrient profile that will help them meet nutrient requirements they are lacking.  Helping people choose lean protein sources, especially by adding lean meat to the Guidelines selected food groups, will help Americans make lean choices.

The Dietary Guidelines, now under review, are reviewed every five years and serve as a basis for tools such as the Food Guide Pyramid, which also is under review.

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee held its final meeting on Aug. 10-11 in Washington, D.C.  The Committee next will finalize its report to the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and USDA.  The departments then will develop the actual policy document that will communicate the guidelines.  The goal is to release the final guidelines in early 2005. 

NCBA believes that the Advisory Committee may have overlooked its own scientific review as it recognized zinc as a shortfall nutrient and iron as the most common nutrient deficiency in the United States.  Beef contains both nutrients and is one of many nutritionally rich food choices people can make to ensure they eat foods that are good for them and taste good.