Nutrition Advisory Panel Recommends Americans Eat Less Meat To Save the Planet
Every five years, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee plants themselves in a conference room, breaks out the presentations, participates in some heated debates, and churns out the first draft of the country's official Dietary Guidelines. This time out, though, it's been a bit more contentious than in the past, as rumors persisted that the USDA was going to recommend less meat-eating. This didn't sit quite well with the meat lobby, who coerced members of Congress to nudge the USDA in a different direction.
Well, the documents are unsealed and the guidelines were released to the public. So, let's see what the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has to say about the American diet.
At first glance, it looks like more of the same recommendations that have been in place for years. Americans aren't consuming enough fruits, vegetables, and whole grains -- and, thusly, we're specifically not getting enough vitamins A, D, E, C, folate, calcium, magnesium, fiber, and potassium. We're also consuming way too many salts and sugars. But right in the executive summary things take a subtle, yet important, turn:
The impact of food production, processing, and consumption on environmental sustainability is an area of research that is rapidly evolving. As further research is conducted and best practices are evaluated, additional evidence will inform both supply-side participants and consumers on how best to shift behaviors locally, nationally, and globally to support sustainable diets. Linking health, dietary guidance, and the environment will promote human health and the sustainability of natural resources and ensure current and long-term food security.
The panel is saying that evidence linking our eating habits with the effects it has on our environment are too strong to ignore anymore. This concept may seem obvious to anyone reading reports about how cow methane's been quickly damaging the ozone layer. But it's the first time the advisory panel has made the link official, and that's a big deal.
(While these are billed as simply recommendations, that doesn't mean they don't have significant influences when it comes to our nation's collective diet. For starters, their existence pretty much dictates which foods will be served to the 30 million children that participate in the public school lunch program every day. So, these recommendations matter.)
The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee followed this up by suggesting everyone stop eating so much meat. As one of the committee members put it:
"We're not saying that people need to become vegans," said Miriam Nelson, a professor at Tufts University and one of the committee's members. "But we are saying that people need to eat less meat."
But in their recommendations -- and this is where it gets controversial -- instead of going the route of advising against red meat, which has been the norm over the years, they're actually suggesting people eat less lean meat as well. From a dietary aspect, some critics find this problematic:
The committee's new report also advised eliminating "lean meat" from the list of recommended healthy foods, as well as cutting back on red and processed meats. Fewer protein choices will likely encourage Americans to eat even more carbs. [...] It's possible that a mostly meatless diet could be healthy for all Americans -- but then again, it might not be. We simply do not know.
But if their argument is that a diet rich in meat of any kind is damaging to the environment, how can the guidelines suggest one over the other?
As you'd imagine, the meat industry isn't pleased. The United States Cattlemen's Association says the report "neglects the current science and research," while the National Cattlemen's Beef Association calls the report "inconsistent, and if adopted will lead to conflicting dietary advice." The North American Meat Institute calls it "flawed" and "nonsensical." These stinging quotes, surely, are just the beginning.
See, this is not the final version of the guidelines. As is the custom, they've been released in a "draft" form to allow the public to compose their comments. Folks have until midnight on April 8th to let their voice be heard until the final version is released. The meat lobby, no doubt, are planning all sorts of ways to debunk the link between the environment and diet. So, stay tuned. This food fight is just starting.
