New Dietary Guidelines Show Politics Still Trumps Science

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By MEREDITH MELNICK Monday, January 31, 2011

The U.S. government announced its latest update of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) today, advising Americans to eat less salt, sugar and fat, and to increase intake of fruits, veggies and fish. Pretty familiar stuff. But the 2010 DGA also recommends something else, for the first time: that Americans eat less overall.

Why is that a big deal? Because it's an acknowledgment that obesity — and overconsumption — are causing serious health problems in the U.S., and that people should make it a priority to eat less food. Long-time industry critics like nutrition expert Marion Nestle are pleased with the DGA update. "I'm in shock," Nestle wrote on her blog, Food P0litics./.../