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Basics

A Guide to Dietary Standards

Food & Beverage

Published on October 21, 2024

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Overview

The U.S. Dietary Guidelines were established after growing concerns about public health, particularly as the rates of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity began to rise in the 20th century. As scientific research increasingly linked diet to health outcomes, it became clear many health issues were related to poor nutrition and lifestyle choices. In response, the U.S. government recognized the importance of providing the public with evidence-based recommendations to guide eating habits and improve overall health. The first set of dietary guidelines was unveiled in 1980, aiming to help Americans make informed choices about their diets to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, promote long-term health, and enhance quality of life. 

These guidelines were developed to offer practical advice based on the best available scientific evidence, aiming to help Americans improve their health through better nutrition, however, sparked controversy from the outset. The National Academy of Sciences criticized the foundational studies underlying the diet, calling them “generally unimpressive.” The academy’s president even cautioned against the potential unintended consequences of adopting recommendations based on such limited evidence. While long-term clinical trials are costly and challenging, they remain a crucial step before making recommendations that affect the entire population. Over the years, the guidelines have been updated every five years to reflect new research, changing dietary patterns, and the nation’s shifting health priorities. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines provide science-based advice on what Americans should eat and drink to promote better health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and meet nutrient needs. In this Basic, we will look at the history of dietary guidelines, the current revision period, and recent updates from Congress.

How Did We Get Here? 

The history of dietary guidelines in the U.S. is closely tied to the nation’s evolving understanding of nutrition and public health. The first official dietary guidelines were introduced in 1980 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in response to the increasing prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases. As per the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990, which established the dietary guidelines process, “The information and guidelines contained in each report shall be based on the preponderance of the scientific and medical knowledge which is current at the time the report is prepared.” The guidelines are developed through a systematic process initiated by the USDA and HHS, which appoint a Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) of experts. The DGAC reviews current scientific evidence, analyzes national dietary data, and drafts recommendations. Public comments are solicited, and after a thorough review, USDA and HHS finalize and publish the guidelines every five years. 

The guidelines serve as more than mere recommendations. They act as the nation’s nutritional compass, influencing everything from school lunch programs to the food provided in military and hospital settings, as well as the dietary advice given by doctors and nutritionists. By shaping food policies and individual choices, these guidelines play a critical role in determining the long-term health outcomes of the population, affecting everything from rates of chronic disease to overall public well-being. Their far-reaching impact underscores the weight of getting them right. Unfortunately, those standards haven’t lived up to expectations, resulting in a national nutrition policy no longer aligning with the most up-to-date or evidence-based science.

Efforts to Improve

The current state of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines reflects ongoing efforts to address the American population’s complex and evolving nutritional needs. The most recent 2020-2025 guidelines emphasize a dietary pattern rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats while advising limitations on added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats. These guidelines remain a critical foundation for federal nutrition policies, programs, and educational initiatives, influencing everything from school lunch programs to public health campaigns. With a growing focus on dietary patterns rather than individual nutrients, the guidelines aim to provide a more holistic approach to promoting health and preventing chronic diseases.

Looking ahead, the future revisions of the dietary guidelines are expected to incorporate even more nuanced considerations, such as the impact of diet on sustainability and health of the environment, personalized nutrition based on genetic and microbiome differences, and the role of technology in dietary monitoring and interventions. The guidelines are likely to evolve in response to emerging scientific evidence and public health challenges, such as increasing obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related conditions. This shift reflects broader public health concerns and the desire to present a more straightforward message about what constitutes a healthy dietary pattern. As these discussions continue, the outcome will likely influence the dietary guidelines and broader public health messaging. Additionally, Members of Congress have expressed concerns relating to the transparency of the guidelines. For instance, over 100 members of the House of Representatives recently wrote to HHS and USDA regarding concerns over the review of alcohol for the guidelines, “For physicians and other medical providers to adopt guidance and convey the information to their patients, and for consumers to follow the guidance, it is critical that any review and recommendations be based on a preponderance of sound science and research that is developed in a transparent manner without any potential for conflict of interest.”

Concerns about bias in the development of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines have been debated for years, with critics pointing to the potential influence of food industry lobbying, political pressure, and conflicting interests within the advisory committees. Additionally, selecting experts who shape the guidelines has also come under scrutiny, with some questioning whether committee members have ties to industries that could bias their recommendations. These concerns highlight the importance of transparency, rigorous scientific review, and the inclusion of diverse perspectives in the development process to ensure that the guidelines serve the public’s best interests and accurately reflect the latest, unbiased research on nutrition and health. 

Recent Legislation  

Recent updates from Congress regarding the U.S. Dietary Guidelines have focused on efforts to reform the process by which these guidelines are developed, with particular attention to increasing transparency and reducing potential biases. A significant development has been the amendment proposed by the House Agriculture Committee as part of the Farm Bill, which aims to reform the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s (DGAC) selection process. This comprehensive legislative package, renewed every five years, holds the potential to pave the way for a healthier future in America. The bill introduces important reforms to developing nutritional guidelines, mandating the use of “standardized, generally accepted evidence-based review methods” and requiring full transparency around any conflicts of interest among committee members. Additionally, the proposal would no longer require that the guidelines be revisited in their entirety every 5 years, providing important flexibility to policymakers to allocate resources efficiently in instances when the available scientific data is unchanged on specific topics.  Indeed, the United States is an outlier in the frequency with which the dietary guidelines are updated when compared to several of our nation’s peers. The proposed changes include stricter conflict-of-interest rules and greater diversity in expertise among committee members, addressing long-standing concerns about bias in developing the guidelines.

With the 2025-2030 guidelines on the horizon, growing debate surrounds whether current recommendations adequately reflect the latest research or if industry pressures influence them. In response to these concerns, a bill proposal would require an independent third-party review of the DGAC’s findings before they are included in the guidelines. This effort is part of a broader push to ensure the guidelines are clear and free from the potential biases of industry influence.

These changes mark a critical step toward restoring scientific integrity to our national nutrition policy. The proposed changes in the farm bill present an opportunity to disrupt this cycle. By enforcing stricter transparency and requiring adherence to robust scientific standards, we can start to restore public trust in these vital guidelines. This shift would ensure that every meal served in schools, every nutrition label on store shelves, and every piece of dietary advice from physicians is grounded in reliable science, not outdated theories or industry influence.

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