The Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate Health and Agriculture committees asked for 30 additional days for public comments on a report that will serve as the foundation for a new edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. “This advisory committee report included recommendations that are notably different from previous guidelines, which will require additional time to develop thoughtful feedback,” said the letter to Health Secretary Sylvia Burwell and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The panel of experts suggested environmental sustainability should be taken into account in government suggestions for healthy diets.
Meat-industry groups say the experts strayed outside their expertise in nutrition. The government has set a 45-day comment period. Congress instructed the USDA and HHS in a funding bill not to consider environmental factors in writing the guidelines. The advisory panel recommended people eat more fruit, vegetables and whole grains, and less meat and sugar.