The new edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the government’s tips on healthful diets, will be issued in the new year, says the Health and Human Services Department. HHS and USDA share responsibility for updating the guidelines every five years. The panel of experts that advises the government on the 2015 edition held its final meeting on Monday. It will submit its report to USDA and HHS “early in 2015,” says HHS. Public comments will be accepted until Dec 30.
Based on presentations at the advisory committee’s final meeting, the 2015 guidelines “will likely have strong advice for Americans to cut back on added sugars, salt, and saturated fat. The committee recommended that people should consume diets rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, lower in red and processed meat, and low in sugar-sweetened foods and beverages and refined grains,” says the consumer group Center for Science in the Public Interest.
“Importantly, for the first time, the DGAC recommended that people limit sugar to 10 percent of their calories, or about 50 grams—12 teaspoons—per day for someone consuming 2,000 calories. It also recommended that Nutrition Facts panels express added sugars not only in grams but also in teaspoons, which CSPI said is far easier for people to understand,” said CSPI.