Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2000
THE POLITICS OF FOOD:
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE U.S. DIETARY GUIDELINES

An examination of the history of the federal government's dietary recommendations reveals the strong influence that business interests have had on which foods were "favored" for nationwide consumption—regardless of nutritional research or the risks to human health.

Early Origins: The First Food Guides

• In 1862, Congress created the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and charged it with certain key roles that gave rise to inevitable conflicts of interest: one was educating the public on agricultural matters, including food policy, and the other was working with food producers to provide a reliable, consistent food supply.

• The first USDA food guide was published in 1916. Several other guides were published in subsequent years with varying categories for foods.

The Basic Four

In the early 1950s, the USDA created four food groups: milk; meat; fruits and vegetables; and breads and cereals. Called the Basic Four, this was the first plan in U.S. history to specify the number and size of suggested servings. Food industry representatives played an integral part in devising this new plan, and the National Dairy Council was so pleased that it distributed its own version as a public service. The Basic Four remained the foundation for nutrition education policy for the next 35 years, from 1956 to 1991.

Health Research Topples the Basic Four
and Angers Agricultural Producers

• Prompted by extensive disease and nutrition studies, scientists in the 1970s announced recommendations for dietary changes and revisions in public policy to reduce the risks of heart disease and other diet-related illnesses. The suggested changes would include much lower intake levels of overall fat and especially cholesterol, which is found only in animal products.

• In 1977, the Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs responded by publishing Dietary Goals for the United States, a report advising the reduction of cholesterol, saturated fat, and total fat, along with consumption of more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Due to outrage from cattlemen and dairy farmers, the report was revised a few months later to change its message from "eat less meat and milk" to "choose lean meat and nonfat milk."

• By 1980, the USDA had come up with the first official Dietary Guidelines for Americans, based largely on the Dietary Goals report. As soon as the new guidelines were released, the meat and dairy industries objected, and an advisory committee was established to begin revising them.

• As the public became aware of new information regarding fat and cholesterol, consumption of animal products appeared threatened. Agricultural producers responded by increasing political lobbying in an attempt to discredit the new federal dietary recommendations.

• Despite political pressure, by the early 1980s, USDA nutritionists began working on a new visual model to replace the Basic Four: one that would ensure adequate intake of fiber, which is found only in plant foods, and recommend less fat and cholesterol than the previous plan.

The Pyramid Controversy

• In 1988 and 1989, helped by a private market research firm, the USDA came up with the "Eating Right Pyramid," which emphasized grains and other plant foods (which occupy its base), and de-emphasized animal products (which are near the top). Sent to 36 nutritional experts and presented at numerous professional conferences, the Pyramid received widespread approval. Release was set for April 1991.

• Several weeks before the Pyramid was to be released, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine asked the USDA to replace the Basic Four with the New Four Food Groups: whole grains, vegetables, legumes, and fruits. The "New Four" caught the attention of meat, dairy, and egg lobbyists, and drew bitter criticism for its lack of animal products among the required foods.

• Within days, members of the National Cattlemen's Association met with the new Secretary of Agriculture, Edward R. Madigan, and complained about the upcoming release of the Pyramid—which they said would hurt their sales of beef. The Cattlemen's Association joined forces with the National Milk Producers Federation and other trade associations in opposing publication of this new model.

• Within weeks, the Eating Right Pyramid was withdrawn. The reason? According to Secretary Madigan, it was "confusing to children." However, interviews with lobbyists and USDA employees revealed the real cause: the concerns of food producers. Protests over the withdrawal came from the American Cancer Society, the American Medical Association, and other health and medical organizations.

• In July 1991, the USDA hired another private firm to determine if the Pyramid was better than other designs, such as a bowl. The agency said it wanted the symbol tested on USDA's target audiences of children and those with minimal education. After months of costly analysis ($855,000) and market research, the Pyramid was found to be the best model and its release was rescheduled.

• The Pyramid was released in April 1992—one year late—with 33 changes, many of which the meat and dairy industries had demanded.

Pyramid to Present

• From 1992 to 1995, food producers continued their active political lobbying, trying to influence the revision of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Minor changes were made in 1995.

• In 1998, the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced the appointment of the fifth Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which is due to recommend further revisions to the Guidelines before January 2000.

• The USDA and the DHHS plan to release the fifth edition of the Guidelines in mid-2000.

To learn more about PCRM's lawsuit against the USDA and the DHHS, and what you can do to help please click here.