Dietary Guidelines Called ‘Out-of-Touch’ and ‘Elitist’

U.S. consumers are not eating enough vegetables, but the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee advises Americans to eat fewer starchy vegetables. The National Potato Council said this conclusion is not supported by nutritional science and will only confuse consumers. Meat groups had a mixed reaction. The National Pork Producers Council praised the committee’s recommendation to increase protein intake, but also said plant proteins cannot replace animal proteins. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is upset with the recommendations. The recommendations highlighted at its preview meeting included a move away from high-quality proteins like beef and replacing it with beans and lentils. In a statement, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane said this was one of the most ‘out-of-touch, impractical and elitist’ dietary proposals in history.