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NAS calls for changes in dietary guidelines process

The National Academy of Sciences says the U.S. dietary guidelines process needs to be changed. A new academy report, called for by Congress, says the USDA and Department of Health (HHS) must redesign the process to improve transparency, promote diversity of experts and strengthen the scientific review of the guidelines, which are updated every five years.

It says future Dietary Guidelines Advisory committees should focus on the health of the general public “across the entire lifespan”, not just healthy Americans ages two and older. It says chronic diseases are prevalent in America and nutrition for pregnant women and children from birth to age two is critical.

In addition, the report says the USDA and HHS should manage biases and conflicts of interest in the process. The committee’s work ahead of the last set of guidelines was criticized heavily by the livestock sector for recommending “sustainability” in meat production be a factor in determining what Americans eat.