October 29, 2003 - Beef Checkoff Funds Increased Nutrition Education

Through their beef checkoff, producers are conducting research that shows consumers and health professionals the nutritional value beef provides when added to the diet.  In fact, lean beef stacks up very well to other proteins when it comes to the nutrients in supplies in the diet.  According to Nelson Curry, a Tennessee beef producer and vice chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, that information has come in handy to the industry. 

Cut #1    :20       Outcue: "...micronutrients were concerned."

Curry says the positive nutrition information has come through in major magazines such as Time and Newsweek, which regularly report on the dietary habits of Americans.

Cut #2    :17       Outcue: "...to the American public."

According to Curry, the positive story of nutrition was getting through long before the popularity of high protein diets.

Cut #3    :23       Outcue: "...good source of protein."

It’s important the industry not get tunnel vision when it comes to nutrition education.

Cut #4    :28       Outcue: "...value of the product."

The $1-per-head beef checkoff is administered by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, with oversight by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Its 108 volunteer producer members are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.