The 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) released its dietary guidelines reaffirming red meat as part of the diet.
The scientific report, which represents an objective assessment of the latest available science on specific nutrition topics, is designed to inform the USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as they develop the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs).
“Cattle and beef producers appreciate the evidence-based recommendations of the DGAC. We believe beef is a wholesome, nutritious food that plays an important role in a healthy diet, and we are supportive of many of the committee’s findings,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Colin Woodall. “NCBA and its members have made this work a priority for more than two years, and we’re pleased that the report reinforces the strong science which supports beef’s nutritional value in a healthy diet.”
The committee found the typical American diet results in overconsumption of total “energy, saturated fats, sodium, added sugars, and for some consumers, alcoholic beverages. Intakes of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are lower than current recommendations.”
The new recommendations follow along with the guidelines in the 2015-2020 DGAs regarding red meat. The report recommends a higher intake of “vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low- or nonfat dairy, lean meat and poultry, seafood, nuts, and unsaturated vegetable oils.” While the DGAC recognized red meats, like beef, as nutrient-rich foods and encouraged consumption of lean cuts in healthy diets, it also recommended “low consumption of red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened foods and drinks, and refined grains.”
The adage of eating three meals a day was recommended when the committee stated, “A person’s daily nutrient intake and overall nutritional status is determined by a complex interplay of three factors surrounding food choice: type; amount; and frequency.”
The committee found consistent evidence that certain dietary pattern components are associated with beneficial outcomes for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, overweight and obesity, Type 2 diabetes, bone health, cancer (breast, colorectal, and lung) and neurocognitive health.
“Study after study shows that beef plays an important role in a balanced, healthy diet across the lifespan,” said NCBA President Marty Smith. “NCBA has made it a priority to protect the scientific credibility of Dietary Guidelines and promote accurate information about the nutritional advantages of beef as part of a balanced diet.”
Additionally, the report recognized the importance of meats for children under 24 months of age. They included advice to “Provide a variety of animal-source foods (meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and dairy), fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and whole-grain products, beginning at ages 6-12 months and continuing thereafter, to provide key nutrients, foster acceptance of a variety of nutritious foods, and build healthy dietary habits.”
The NCBA has launched a nationwide grassroots campaign to highlight the #BenefitsofBeef and is asking cattle producers to submit public comments in support of federal dietary guidelines which recognize beef’s role in a healthy diet.
The comment period ends Aug. 13, and producers can submit comments to their website at https://actnow.io/OvcMh3P. — Charles Wallace, WLJ editor
