Diet, Dog and Dogma

The release yesterday of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee report does not officially give us new dietary guidelines for Americans just yet. Famously, there is a political element to this process. The scientists making up the advisory committee do just that: they advise. What actually emerges as guidance is determined by the federal agencies in charge, USDA and DHHS. Over the years, though, as the involvement of politics in our official dietary guidance has become ever more transparent, thanks at least partly to the efforts of Marion Nestle after chairing one such advisory committee, they have also tended to become a bit less heavy-handed. When the report of the scientists is circulated on the Internet, as it now is, the alterations made by politicians are visible to everyone who cares. That makes any serious adulteration of the scientists' recommendations something of an embarrassment, and rather a liability. That doesn't mean there won't be any changes. Before the committee report is translated into official guidelines, there is a period of public comment -- which is a banner that flies over a host of agendas. Some of the commentary will be from public health advocates, but much will be from industry. What exact dietary guidelines will emerge from this gauntlet remains to be seen. But given that, I like what I see so far. I think the advisory committee has done a stellar job. Their report, which came off embargo only yesterday, (2/19) runs to 572 pages, so ...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news