National Dietary Guidelines Rewritten to Favor Industry

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Subject:National Dietary Guidelines Rewritten to Favor Industry

 

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October 29, 2004 |

 

National Dietary Guidelines Rewritten to Favor Industry

 

The federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, appointed last year

by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services,

has rewritten national dietary guidelines for the American public in a

manner that is " so vague as to be meaningless, " a group of national

nutrition experts is charging. [1]

 

According to OMB Watch, a nonprofit government watchdog organization,

one reason for the watering down of federal recommendations for the

consumption of carbohydrates, sugars and fats appears to be that the

committee is stacked with members who have strong ties to the food,

drug and dietary supplement industries. [2]

 

The committee includes members with ties to the American Council on

Science and Health (an industry-supported group that repeatedly

downplays food-related concerns, including those about trans fats);

the International Food Information Council; Campbell Soup Company;

Procter & Gamble; American Egg Board; the Peanut Institute; the

American Cocoa Research Institute; the Sugar Association: the Kellogg

Company; Warner-Lambert; National Dairy Council; National Dairy Board;

Kraft; and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. [3]

 

However, the actual data in the committee report supporting the new,

albeit vague, recommendations is solid, said Margo Wootan, of the

Center for Science in the Public Interest. " Now they just need to put

it into language people can follow when they go to the grocery store

or to a restaurant, " she told BushGreenwatch.

 

At issue are such vaguely worded guidelines as, " Choose fats wisely

for good health, " and " Choose carbohydrates wisely for good health. "

These would replace previous statements that gave more specific

advice, such as " Choose a diet that is low in saturated fat and

cholesterol and moderate in total fat, " and " Choose beverages and

foods to moderate your intake of sugars. "

 

The letter, signed by 25 nutrition experts from universities across

the country, points out that most Americans " are not nutritionists "

and need clearer direction on what constitutes a healthy diet. The

nutritionists propose language that clearly lays out what people

should and should not eat, such as " eat less cheese, beef, pork, whole

and 2% milk, egg yolks, pastries and other foods that are high in

saturated fat, trans fat or cholesterol. "

 

" People do not eat nutrients, they eat food, " the letter states.

" Providing advice about which foods to eat more of or less of is

easier to understand and more effective than focusing on nutrients. "

 

The letter also suggests that a guideline be included telling people

to " drink fewer soft drinks and limit cake, cookies, frozen desserts,

and other foods rich in refined sugars. " [4]

 

OMB Watch reports that Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL) has been concerned

about industry influence over federal dietary guidelines. Fitzgerald

introduced a bill last year that would have given the responsibility

of issuing guidelines to the Institute of Medicine. " Putting the USDA

in charge of dietary advice is in some respects like putting the fox

in charge of the henhouse, " he told Congress Daily. [5]

 

###

 

SOURCES:

[1] Letter to Kathryn McMurry, HHS Office of Disease Prevention and

Health Promotion, from 25 nutrition experts, Sep. 21, 2004.

[2] " Industry Influence Weakens USDA Dietary Guidelines, " OMB Watch,

The OMB Watcher, Vol. 5, Oct. 4, 2004.

[3] OMBwatch, op. cit.

[4] Letter, op. cit.

[5] OMBwatch, op. cit.

 

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