As people continue to put on more weight and die of preventable diseases, the debate about the role nutrition plays in the drama between science and commerce continues. Last week, the federal government released its 2015 dietary guidelines, a generally
As people continue to put on more weight and die of preventable diseases, the debate about the role nutrition plays in the drama between science and commerce continues. Last week, the federal government released its 2015 dietary guidelines, a generally sensible plan for maintaining good health despite some revisions that drew the scorn of critics.
In February, the Dietary Guideline Advisory Committee issued a report that recommended people favor fruits and vegetables instead of meals containing animal products. It said a diet of more plant foods also would be more sustainable, reducing the impact on the environment of meat production.
By the time the final guidelines were issued last week, the committee’s sustainability provision had not survived bureaucratic tinkering, nor did its recommendation to cut back on eating red and processed meats. The reason was that the meat and dairy industries lobbied officials at the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services who were tasked with writing the final guidelines.
One of the most outspoken critics was David L. Katz, a Yale University nutritionist. He told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s David Templeton that the guidelines were “a national embarrassment” and “a willful sacrifice of public health on the altar of profit for well-organized special interests.”
We won’t go that far. The guidelines are still sensible and encourage Americans to eat a variety of vegetables and fruits; grains, at least half of which are whole grains; fat-free or low-fat dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese; and a mix of protein-rich foods such as seafood, lean meats, eggs and nuts. They also recommend limits on consumption of sugar, sodium and saturated fats.
Americans who want to get healthy or stay that way would do well to follow the guidelines. Those who want to go further — and adopt a diet that is meatless or more considerate of the planet — are free to go there.
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
