SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The omnibus bill that killed the U.S. country-of-origin labelling law also put red meat back on the American menu by reversing controversial sections of the dietary guidelines program.
An advisory committee that used health and nutrition information to review the nutrition guide had wanted to drastically cut back on red meat in the American diet. The committee said Americans were eating too much red and processed meat.
It also wanted to add provisions about sustainability and environmental elements of beef production.
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“This was the first time any advisory committee had gone this far to include topics outside nutrition and health,” said Kristina Butts of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Washington, D.C., office.
The omnibus bill said the final guidelines must remain within nutrition and health parameters, so sustainability and statements about marketing to children were eliminated. The bill also provided funding for a third party scientific committee to oversee the development of the guidelines.
As a result, the U.S. agriculture and health departments announced revised nutritional guidelines Jan. 8 that encouraged Americans to eat a variety of protein sources, including lean meats such as beef, pork, lamb and poultry.
“The statement of over-consumption about red and processed meats is no longer in the final dietary recommendation,” she said.
This was considered a victory following last fall’s announcement from the International Agency for Research on Cancer that linked consumption of red meat and processed meats to pancreatic, prostate and colorectal cancer.
barbara.duckworth@producer.com
