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Trump administration rejects stricter advice on alchol and sugar

December 30, 2020 from the Politico

"The Trump administration has rejected an external scientific advisory committee’s recommendations that men should cut back on alcohol and that all individuals should further limit their intake of added sugars."

"The latest iteration of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, jointly released Tuesday by the Agriculture Department and the Department of Health and Human Services, mirrors what the government has long urged Americans to eat: more fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meat; less sugar, salt and saturated fat."

"Rejecting stricter alcohol, added sugars advice: Government officials ultimately decided to not adopt the stricter alcohol recommendation, which had sparked furious pushback and lobbying from the alcohol industry."

"The advisory committee had also suggested the guidelines should take a harder line against added sugars, but USDA and HHS decided to keep the Obama-era advice that individuals try to not consume more than 10 percent of their calories from added sugars. (The committee had recommended dropping the limit down even further to 6 percent)."

"USDA and HHS officials said there wasn't enough evidence to recommend stricter limits for alcohol and added sugars, but they still emphasized that people cut back on both. The agencies said more research should be done."

"New advice for infants, toddlers, pregnant and lactating women: For the first time, the guidelines explicitly include advice for infants and toddlers as well as pregnant and lactating women."

"The government recommends that infants should be exclusively fed human milk until 6 months of age, when possible, and if not then fed iron-fortified infant formula. When infants are ready to begin adding solid foods, usually around 6 months, the government recommends that caregivers focus on nutrient dense foods to ensure babies get enough key nutrients like iron and zinc. Infants and toddlers should avoid foods with added sugars and limit foods that are higher in sodium." "The government recommends pregnant and lactating women consume a variety of nutrient-dense foods and beverages, including fruits and vegetables, seafood, eggs, lean meats, beans, lentils and low-fat dairy, while paying special attention to crucial nutrients, including folate/folic acid, iron, iodine and choline."

"New theme: Nutrient density: The theme for the 2020-2025 edition of the guidelines is “Make Every Bite Count,” a message that’s meant to encourage choosing nutrient dense foods and beverages, something that is particularly important for infants and toddlers."

"The guidelines recommend that 85 percent of an individual's calories should come from "nutrient dense" foods in five categories: vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy and protein. Just 15 percent of calories should come from foods that are higher in added sugars, salt or saturated fat or alcoholic beverages (this pencils out to between 250 to 350 calories for most people.)"

"In a media briefing, health officials acknowledged it is tricky to communicate what "nutrient dense" means to the public. Health officials suggested small shifts can be made, such as choosing sparkling water over soda; plain shredded wheat over the frosted kind; or plain low-fat yogurt with fruit instead of full fat yogurt with added sugars."

"Other examples include: choosing dark green, red and orange vegetables, whole fruits, eggs, lean meats, seafood, whole grains, low-fat dairy and fortified soy products."

Dietary Guideliens executive summary

Dietary Guidelines Report