Rense.com

National Dietary Guidelines
Rewritten To Favor Industry
 10-30-4

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.
Copyright © 2003 Environmental Media Services