Dietary Guidelines’ acceptance challenged by changing scientific and social norms.
The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, slated to be released in late 2015 or early 2016, are more contentious than in the past. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) report, which becomes the basis for the actual guidelines, focuses on dietary patterns that are associated with lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, overweight and obesity. The report also covers hot topics such as how much sodium, saturated fat and added sugars people should be eating, as well as sustainability issues.
A number of factors made the discussion more controversial. First, research is not clear-cut on some of the topics. For example, while many experts believe adding sustainability to recommendations is warranted, others say the research isn’t conclusive. Second, scientific research is not as respected as it once was, with many consumer and advocacy groups skeptical of methods used, funding agencies and study conclusions. Third, social media has given groups who call into question the credibility of the DGAC a platform to express their non-traditional views quickly and broadly.
Milk and dairy foods fare well in the Dietary Guidelines as they are included in all three recommended dietary patterns. Dairy Council of California’s position will be to balance the public policy—a starting point to health—with individual needs through nutrition education using a positive and personalized approach. In addition, the diversity of products and the industry’s commitment to producing specialized milk-based products that meet niche markets strengthen dairy’s position in healthy diets for everyone.
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