In his bipartisan letter to the agencies, Brindisi led 50-plus members of Congress in requesting that the agencies review studies demonstrating beneficial or neutral effects of dairy foods at all fat levels and include those findings in the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
October 15, 2020
Congressman Anthony Brindisi, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, held a virtual meeting with dairy farmers from across New York’s 22nd District and advocated for their priorities in a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue.
IDFA said it is pleased with the recommendation, but is disappointed the report did not include relevant information on scientific studies that show the benefits of dairy at each fat level.
July 15, 2020
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., released the following statement on July 15 in response to the federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) final scientific report:
Literature from recent years shows that dairy foods, regardless of fat level, appear to have either neutral or beneficial effects on health outcomes.
June 16, 2020
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Va.-based National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) are urging the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) to include the full body of scientific literature from recent years showing that dairy foods, regardless of fat level, appear to have either neutral or beneficial effects on health outcomes.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) are updated every five years to provide Americans with a roadmap for healthy eating. They also are the cornerstone recommendations used to develop federal food and nutrition programs.
The scientists requested that the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services consider lifting the limits placed on saturated fat intake for the upcoming 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines.
March 3, 2020
In a consensus statement, a group of established U.S. and international nutrition scientists, including three former members of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, requested the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services give serious and immediate consideration to lifting the limits placed on saturated fat intake for the upcoming 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Public Health England in March released its new Eatwell guide, similar to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and My Plate (the old food pyramid). England’s top dairy association was quick with a critique, calling the recommendations “baffling and disappointing.”
The new guidelines support the consumption of reduced-fat dairy products. It is up to dairy marketers to figure out how to convince American adults to eat more. They fall short of the recommended three daily servings.
While the new DGA support reduced-fat dairy foods, the nutrition standards for federal feeding programs may be too strict. Changes have narrowed the types of milk that can be offered in schools.