Dietary guidelines were released today by Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell. The guidelines encourage Americans to adopt a series of recommendations to improve how they eat and to reduce obesity and prevent chronic diseases. South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association President Todd Wilkinson says the Secretaries followed sound science in including lean meats in the recommendations.

 

He says these final guidelines are a huge improvement over the original recommendations brought forward by a committee that strayed from sound science.

 

Wilkinson is hoping these guidelines will set some precedent when the standards are reviewed in the future. He says Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack did a good job of avoiding a misplaced agenda and brought forward reasonable recommendations.

 

The guidelines call for Americans to follow a healthy eating pattern, to focus on variety nutrient dense foods and amounts, to limit calories from sugars, to shift to healthier food and beverage choices and to support healthy eating patterns.