Dietary Guidelines Review Set to Begin Work

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman have designated 13 professionals to serve on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.  The group reviews the Dietary Guidelines for Americans report, which is published every five years. A broad-based nutrition policy guide, the Guidelines utilize the latest scientific and medical knowledge to advise the general public on ways to improve overall health through proper nutrition.  The Guidelines are the cornerstone of federal nutrition programs such as school lunch.

Government reports such as this can be important to the beef industry, especially considering the 1977 Senate report that recommended the public “eat less red meat.”  Following that report, beef demand fell for 20 years.  Since then, the industry has developed 19 cuts that fit the USDA description of lean.  The industry’s goal in this process will be to demonstrate the importance of beef and beef’s nutrients through scientific studies.

The Committee designees will meet in the early fall to review and update the most recent scientific literature in preparation for the release of the 2005 version of Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Selected for their scientific expertise related to dietary intake and health, the designees will advise the two agencies on any nutritional and dietary revisions necessary to the Guidelines before they are republished.

In order to prepare the Guidelines for release in 2005, the designees will examine the new Dietary Reference Intakes by the Institute of Medicine and other research.