News
Potato likely to maintain vegetable status
The National Potato Council says comments made by Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack could set the tone for the potato’s future in the next Dietary Guidelines.
Mike Wenkel tells Brownfield a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators, led by Susan Collins of Maine, have been calling on the Secretary to keep potatoes classified as a vegetable.
“A reclassification of potatoes or interchangeability could have an impact on a multitude of different ways,” he says. “One we’re probably most concerned about is simply the confusion that it’s going to create for consumers, for retailers, restaurant operators, and really the entire supply chain.”
Senator Collins says Vilsack called her last week affirming his agency’s support of the vegetable.
Wenkel says potatoes contain nutrients of concerns including potassium and Vitamin D which grains do not.
“Between a grain and a vegetable, there are pretty distinct differences botanically between those two types of commodities, but I think really the big thing to look at is the nutrients that are being provided,” he says.
The dietary guidelines advisory committee is undergoing the scientific review process of the 2025 guidelines and Wenkel says final recommendations could be in place by the beginning of next year.
AUDIO: Mike Wenkel, National Potato Council
What utter nonsense! There are more important things. Waste of time, resources, and taxpayer dollars.