One of the greatest pyramids exists in the United States, and dairy foods are critical to its structure

Authors' note: In 2000, USDA began a multi-year, comprehensive reassessment to update the Food Guide Pyramid, which is scheduled for release in 2005 along with the revised Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The purpose for updating the pyramid is two-fold. First, an update ensures that dietary recommendations for types and amounts of food to eat daily continue to meet current nutritional standards; and second, consumers can understand and apply the pyramid's message. The National Dairy Council actively supports USDA's efforts to update the Food Guide Pyramid.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, first released in 1980 and revised most recently in 2000, are the basis for federal nutrition policy. The policy affects nutrition assistance programs including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP), as well as other government feeding and nutrition education programs. With the passage of the Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act in 1994, the NSLP and SBP must now meet the nutritional standards of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (e.g. provide no more than 30% of calories from fat and less than 10% of calories from saturated fat).