Ag Groups Take Issue with Dietary Guidelines Report

The National Pork Producers Council, and now the National Chicken Council are urging the Department of Health and Human Services to reject recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.  That report emphasizes plant-based proteins over lean meats like chicken and pork.  Among the recommendations that the organizations took issue with was the emphasis on eating beans, peas, and lentils as optimal protein sources.

There was no specific mention that lean meat can be part of a healthy dietary pattern.

“We believe these recommendations and omissions are harmful to the human health of all Americans, especially those relying on federal feeding programs,” said Dr. Ashley Peterson, NCC senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs. “The committee also provided no scientific fact or justification to support why protein subgroups need to be reordered to deemphasize lean meats, like chicken.” 

“While pork producers are committed to supporting human health and nutrition with safe, wholesome, and nutritious protein, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s recommendations do not,” says Rob Brenneman, NPPC Vice President and a pork producer from Washington, Iowa. “Our nation’s health is at risk as these Guidelines inform all federal nutrition programs, including those affecting the military and schoolchildren, and provide recommendations to health professionals.”

NPPC and NCC both stressed plant proteins are not nutritionally equivalent at all to animal proteins from a protein quality and quantity standpoint.  This move, they said, will especially put at-risk infants, young children, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women, and older adults, as they require higher amounts of protein and nutrients that are provided by animal-based proteins.

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