Recommendations call for Americans to cut back on meat, sugar

A committee of nutrition experts is proposing that Americans should make their way to the salad bar, but that suggestion is leaving a bad taste in the mouths of associations whose industries could suffer as a result.

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee released a 571-page report outlining their recommended changes to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. The federally mandated committee meets every five years to suggest updates to the guidelines, which are then adopted by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The recommendation getting the most attention is the committee's call for Americans to eat more plant-based foods and cut back on meat, which requires more resources to produce and therefore is worse for the environment, according to the Washington Post. http://wapo.st/1LiWJ3z

Predictably, the recommendation didn't go over well with groups representing meat producers.

"We are disappointed the Advisory Committee would go outside the purview and expertise of nutrition/health research to bring in topics such as sustainability," said Richard Thorpe, a Texas doctor speaking on behalf of the National Cattleman's Beef Association.

Still, many meat groups focused on the committee's findings that processed meat products provide less nutritional value than other forms of food.

"Meat and poultry products are nutrient-dense foods that satisfy hunger and help control weight and are an excellent source of iron, a nutrient of concern specifically highlighted by the (committee), said Barry Carpenter, CEO of the North American Meat Institute. "Processing meat and poultry so that it can be more readily consumed—and consumed in styles and flavor profiles that people around the world savor—helps ensure that people can make these products part of their healthy balanced diet."

Meat is not the only food product coming under fire under the proposed dietary guidelines. In order to get Americans to eat healthier foods, the committee is recommending new taxes and restrictions on sugary foods and beverages. That suggestion brought a sharp rebuke from the American Beverage Association.

"The committee does not have the authority to make such recommendations, nor the scientific evidence or expertise to back up its recommendations," the association said in a statement.

The Sugar Association blasted the committee for recommending that people cut back on the amount of added sugars they consume.

"We strongly contend that leading the American public to believe there is an association between a dietary component and detrimental health outcomes requires a robust review of the entire body of high-quality scientific literature by experts in the field of investigation, not a few hand-picked reviews selected by scientists without carbohydrate or ‘sugars' expertise," the group said in a statement.

At least two associations had something good to say about the guidelines. The National Milk Producers Federation and International Dairy Foods Association issued a joint statement thanking the committee for recognizing the role of dairy products in healthy meals.

"The good news for people across the country is that milk, cheese, and yogurt not only taste great, but also are nutrient-rich, affordable, readily available and versatile, making dairy foods realistic options to help people build healthier meal plans," the groups said.