"We are trying to be very vigilant about staying within the statutory direction of the department (USDA), which is to focus on nutrition and diet," USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack explained to those attending the joint annual meeting of the National Milk Producers Federation and Dairy Management Inc. "The challenge here is science, nutrition and diet are not as clear as I would like them to be," he went on to say when discussing pending revisions to the "Dietary Guidelines for Americans."
"The reality is we have competing studies on fat. That makes it difficult to determine what is correct and what is wrong. It would be helpful if there was some consensus on this issue of fat," he noted when discussing the changing science that has been turning towards favorable dietary reviews of fat found in butter and other dairy products.
"Some people are saying we made a serious mistake in the development of dietary guidelines on not emphasizing more fat rather than less fat. There are some that say that's not the right approach," said Vilsack. "We have to rely on the experts, if you will, to tell us the right answer. One thing that needs to be done is more and better science. It must be clear and have a preponderance of the evidence," explained the ag secretary.
As for concerns about the dietary advisory committee's discussion about topics outside of nutrition, Secretary Vilsack had this to say in response to my question:
"It's important for people to understand the difference between an advisory committee's recommendation where it has the latitude to discuss a wide array of issues that may or may not necessarily be connected to nutrition and the diet," said Vilsack.
However, the statute is very clear that when the Department of Health and Human Services and the United States Department of Agriculture formulate the actual guidelines, they will be solely guided by dietary nutrition advice," Vilsack said firmly. "So our team that is putting together the recommendations for the guidelines understands its role and responsibility," he said.
"Both HHS Secretary Burwell and I have been quite clear that is where we want the focus. My expectation is that is what the guidelines will reflect. I will have an opportunity to review them before they are actually launched. I am confidant that is what is going to happen," he went on to say of the situation.
"I also want to add, there are plenty of opportunities to discuss economic sustainability, environmental sustainability and animal welfare. Those are all important issues, but not necessarily in the context of the dietary guidelines," he concluded.
(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2015
December 21, 2015
