Download How to Weigh in on the Recommendations

Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Submits Recommendations
02-March-2015
Author(s):
Courtney A. Lawrence
Other Author(s):
Bradley A. McKinney
On February 23, 2015, the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) released the Scientific
Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC). The Secretaries of HHS and USDA use the report’s
recommendations in developing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).
The DGA form the basis for federal food and nutrition programs and initiatives, including the School Lunch Program and the
USDA’s MyPlate icon. Typically, the Secretaries of HHS and USDA have heeded the DGAC’s recommendations, making very
few substantive changes when finalizing the DGA.
Key Takeaways From the 2015 Recommendations
 More Plants, Less Meat, Greater Sustainability: The DGAC recommended a diet higher in vegetables, fruits, whole
grains, low- or no-fat dairy, seafood, legumes and nuts, while lower in red and processed meat, sugar-sweetened foods
and drinks, and refined grains. The committee found that a diet higher in plant-based foods and lower in animal-based
foods is associated with less environmental impact. The DGAC noted that the average U.S. diet has a larger
environmental impact in terms of increased greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use and energy use, and
encouraged consumers to consider a sustainable diet to ensure access for current and future generations.
 Sodium, Sugar and Saturated Fat: Generally, the DGAC suggested a diet low in saturated fat and added sugars.
Specifically, they suggested goals of less than 10 percent of total calories from saturated fat per day, and a maximum of
10 percent of total calories from added sugars per day. The DGAC proposed a daily sodium intake of less than 2,300
mg/day, consistent with the 2010 DGA. The committee went on to recommend that the food industry continue
reformulating products and expand efforts to reduce the sodium content of foods. The DGAC also proposed taxation
on higher sugar- and sodium-containing foods to encourage consumers to reduce sugar and sodium consumption.
 Underconsumed and Overconsumed: The DGAC found that vitamins A, C, D and E, folate, calcium, magnesium, fiber
and potassium are all underconsumed (shortfall nutrients), and that sodium and saturated fat are overconsumed. The
report points out that the U.S. population has low intake of important sources of shortfall nutrients — including
vegetables, fruits, whole grains and dairy — and excess intake of refined grains and added sugars. Notably, the DGAC
did not endorse the recommendation from the 2010 guidelines that cholesterol intake be limited to no more than 300
g/day, citing new evidence that suggested cholesterol is not a nutrient of concern for overconsumption.
 Affecting Healthy Purchasing: The DGAC recommended reducing the frequency of eating out at fast food restaurants
in order to favorably affect a range of health-related outcomes. They also encouraged policymakers — specifically
referencing those at the city and town level — to consider mechanisms such as taxation, bans and price incentives to
promote the purchase of healthy foods and beverages.
Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Submits
Recommendations
Legal Update
Page 1
Concerns for the Food Industry
The new recommendations differ from those in previous years, including some considered controversial. The
recommendations on red meat consumption and environment and sustainability considerations are concerning to livestock
industry groups. These stakeholders see these particular proposals as an overreach beyond the charge of the DGAC, and are
concerned they could negatively impact conventional agriculture and meat production. Other stakeholder groups such as
the Union of Concerned Scientists have defended these recommendations, however, saying that the DGAC was simply
following through on recommendations from the 2010 committee to look at sustainability and agriculture practices. Also
controversial to the food industry, particularly beverage manufacturers, is the recommendation for government entities to
consider taxation — akin to the beverage tax that passed in 2014 in Berkeley, California — to encourage healthy eating
behavior.
How to Weigh in on the Recommendations
The report is open for public comment through midnight EDT on April 8, 2015. Those interested can issue public comments
by visiting www.DietaryGuidelines.gov and selecting “submit written comments.” There will also be a public meeting held
for the public to provide oral testimony on March 24, 2015, in Bethesda, Maryland. The meeting will also be webcast.
Additional information can be found here. If you have questions about this matter, please contact Bradley McKinney or
Courtney Lawrence.
Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Submits
fb.us.7866554.04
Recommendations
Legal Update
Page 2