Dietary Guidelines Advisory: Egg, dairy laud it, CSPI gives mixed review, red meat groups criticize
February 20, 2015 |02:10 PM
The United Egg Producers and dairy groups have praised the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee report released Thursday, while the Center for Science in the Public Interest praised it with some caveats and the National Pork Producers Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association criticized it.
The report said that dietary cholesterol is no longer a concern.
“America’s egg farmers applaud this announcement from the dietary guidelines advisory committee, which reinforces what we've always known — eggs are a safe, nutritious and affordable source of high-quality protein,” the United Egg Producers told The Hagstrom Report in an email.
“The advisory committee’s recommendations support what the American Heart Association said when it changed its dietary guidelines in 2000 to recommend that for healthy adults, eggs are an excellent choice as part of a balanced diet,” the group said.
“Egg farmers are committed to producing safe, low-cost, wholesome eggs for consumers, and we appreciate the vote of confidence in our product.”
The National Milk Producers Federation and the International Dairy Foods Association said the groups “appreciate” the panel’s recognition of the importance of dairy foods in the diet.
“The essential role of dairy foods, as part of dietary patterns that foster good health outcomes, is supported by the totality of the science — low-fat and fat-free milk and dairy products are a core component of the healthy dietary patterns identified by the committee, National Milk President and CEO Jim Mulhern and IDFA CEO Connie Tipton said in a joint statement.
Michael Jacobson
CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson noted that most of the recommendations were not changed from 2010 and years past and signaled that “contrary to some media accounts the pendulum is not swinging wildly back and forth on most of these scientific questions.”
“The strong recommendations on added sugars are important and have far-reaching policy implications,” Jacobson said.
“First, the report recommends limiting added sugars to a maximum of 10 percent of calories. The report bluntly recommends that Americans consume fewer sugary drinks. And it recommends adding a line for added sugars on nutrition facts panels, expressed in teaspoons as well as grams, and with a new daily value.”
But Jacobson said the recommendations on sodium were not strong enough.
“Unfortunately, the DGAC suggests a daily limit of 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day, in contrast to evidence — and the 2010 Dietary Guidelines — that 1,500 milligrams is a healthier goal for most adults,” he said.
Jacobson also didn’t like the committee’s decision to stop expressing concern about cholesterol.
“The committee also erred by not including cholesterol as a ‘nutrient of concern.’ It still is,” he said.
“About 60 percent of men are eating too much cholesterol, much of it from eggs. Cholesterol in foods still raises blood cholesterol levels, and people should consume only modest amounts of it.”
Howard Hill
National Pork Producers Council President Howard Hill, a veterinarian and pork producer from Cambridge, Iowa, said, “We think the advisory committee has taken the wrong approach.”
“Science recognizes that meat is, and should be, a part of a healthful diet, and NPPC urges the USDA and HHS secretaries to keep meat in the center of America’s plate,” Hill said.
“It appears the advisory committee was more interested in addressing what’s trendy among foodies than providing science-based advice for the average American’s diet,” Hill said. “Have we really come to the point where alcohol is OK and meat isn’t?”
(The report recommended moderate alcohol consumption and none for pregnant women.)
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said, “Unfortunately, the report is inconsistent, and if adopted will lead to conflicting dietary advice.”
“On one hand, the committee has endorsed the Mediterranean-style diet, which has higher red meat levels than currently consumed in the U.S.; and on the other hand, they have left lean meat out of what they consider to be a healthy dietary pattern.”
Shalene McNeill
“Lean meat is red meat,” said Shalene McNeill, the cattlemen’s association dietician and nutrition scientist, said.
“Today’s beef supply is leaner than ever before with more than 30 cuts of beef recognized as lean by government standards,” said McNeill. “The protein foods category, which includes meat, is the only category currently consumed within the current guidelines, and it is misleading to conclude that a healthy dietary pattern should be lower in red meat.”
The Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association said in a news release that it “urges ranchers, consumers and others involved in the beef industry to contact their elected officials to voice concerns on the dietary guidelines.”
“It is crucial that we send a clear message that we do not approve of this flawed report,” the group said.
The recommendations will not please those following the paleolithic or “paleo” diet, based on the food ancient human ancestors might have eaten, The Atlantic noted in an analysis.
New York University nutrition professor Marion Nestle also published a detailed analysis of the recommendations in her Food Politics blog today.
▪ Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
▪ The Atlantic — Eggs Are Back: The Elegant Simplicity of the New Diet Guidelines
▪ Food Politics — 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee releases its courageous report
The report said that dietary cholesterol is no longer a concern.
“America’s egg farmers applaud this announcement from the dietary guidelines advisory committee, which reinforces what we've always known — eggs are a safe, nutritious and affordable source of high-quality protein,” the United Egg Producers told The Hagstrom Report in an email.
“The advisory committee’s recommendations support what the American Heart Association said when it changed its dietary guidelines in 2000 to recommend that for healthy adults, eggs are an excellent choice as part of a balanced diet,” the group said.
“Egg farmers are committed to producing safe, low-cost, wholesome eggs for consumers, and we appreciate the vote of confidence in our product.”
The National Milk Producers Federation and the International Dairy Foods Association said the groups “appreciate” the panel’s recognition of the importance of dairy foods in the diet.
“The essential role of dairy foods, as part of dietary patterns that foster good health outcomes, is supported by the totality of the science — low-fat and fat-free milk and dairy products are a core component of the healthy dietary patterns identified by the committee, National Milk President and CEO Jim Mulhern and IDFA CEO Connie Tipton said in a joint statement.
CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson noted that most of the recommendations were not changed from 2010 and years past and signaled that “contrary to some media accounts the pendulum is not swinging wildly back and forth on most of these scientific questions.”
“The strong recommendations on added sugars are important and have far-reaching policy implications,” Jacobson said.
“First, the report recommends limiting added sugars to a maximum of 10 percent of calories. The report bluntly recommends that Americans consume fewer sugary drinks. And it recommends adding a line for added sugars on nutrition facts panels, expressed in teaspoons as well as grams, and with a new daily value.”
But Jacobson said the recommendations on sodium were not strong enough.
“Unfortunately, the DGAC suggests a daily limit of 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day, in contrast to evidence — and the 2010 Dietary Guidelines — that 1,500 milligrams is a healthier goal for most adults,” he said.
Jacobson also didn’t like the committee’s decision to stop expressing concern about cholesterol.
“The committee also erred by not including cholesterol as a ‘nutrient of concern.’ It still is,” he said.
“About 60 percent of men are eating too much cholesterol, much of it from eggs. Cholesterol in foods still raises blood cholesterol levels, and people should consume only modest amounts of it.”
National Pork Producers Council President Howard Hill, a veterinarian and pork producer from Cambridge, Iowa, said, “We think the advisory committee has taken the wrong approach.”
“Science recognizes that meat is, and should be, a part of a healthful diet, and NPPC urges the USDA and HHS secretaries to keep meat in the center of America’s plate,” Hill said.
“It appears the advisory committee was more interested in addressing what’s trendy among foodies than providing science-based advice for the average American’s diet,” Hill said. “Have we really come to the point where alcohol is OK and meat isn’t?”
(The report recommended moderate alcohol consumption and none for pregnant women.)
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said, “Unfortunately, the report is inconsistent, and if adopted will lead to conflicting dietary advice.”
“On one hand, the committee has endorsed the Mediterranean-style diet, which has higher red meat levels than currently consumed in the U.S.; and on the other hand, they have left lean meat out of what they consider to be a healthy dietary pattern.”
“Lean meat is red meat,” said Shalene McNeill, the cattlemen’s association dietician and nutrition scientist, said.
“Today’s beef supply is leaner than ever before with more than 30 cuts of beef recognized as lean by government standards,” said McNeill. “The protein foods category, which includes meat, is the only category currently consumed within the current guidelines, and it is misleading to conclude that a healthy dietary pattern should be lower in red meat.”
The Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association said in a news release that it “urges ranchers, consumers and others involved in the beef industry to contact their elected officials to voice concerns on the dietary guidelines.”
“It is crucial that we send a clear message that we do not approve of this flawed report,” the group said.
The recommendations will not please those following the paleolithic or “paleo” diet, based on the food ancient human ancestors might have eaten, The Atlantic noted in an analysis.
New York University nutrition professor Marion Nestle also published a detailed analysis of the recommendations in her Food Politics blog today.
▪ Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
▪ The Atlantic — Eggs Are Back: The Elegant Simplicity of the New Diet Guidelines
▪ Food Politics — 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee releases its courageous report
