HHS, USDA Slammed for Reducing Meat in Dietary Guidelines

Press Release

By Unknown

At least two Wisconsin congressional representatives are crying foul after the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and the USDA reduced the role of meats in their recently published dietary guidelines. U.S. Representatives Sean Duffy and Reid Ribble raised concerns over the decision to the heads of each agency after an advisory committee recommended limited amounts of meat--particularly red and processed meat products--and more plant-based foods in a person's diet.

"By publishing this misguided report, the [Obama] Administration is overstepping their bounds, which will negatively affect, not only the agriculture industry but, the American consumer who relies on the official dietary guidelines for a balanced diet," Duffy said.

Ribble added that American families and their doctors rely on USDA dietary guidelines as the gold standard in helping them make healthy food choices.

"Politically or ideologically-motivated changes not only negatively affects families, but can also throw whole industries into chaos, irresponsibly harming the farmers and processors who feed America," Ribble said.

The letter went on to say that the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report 'significantly downplays, to the point of making it merely a footnote, the role of lean meats and processed meats in its recommendations for a health and balanced diet.'

"Lean meats are a staple of the American diet and that should continue," the two Wisconsin GOP lawmakers added.

Meanwhile, 30 U.S. Senators also co-signed a letter to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell addressing their own concerns and asked them to reject the recommendation to meats. Sen. Ron Johnson of Oshkosh was among the co-signers of that memo.

The guidelines are developed and published by the HHS and USDA every five years.

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