U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) has commented on the release of new dietary guidelines by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“These updates provide easy to understand nutritional information for school meals and other federal nutrition programs and helps Americans make healthy, informed choices. I appreciate the work of the Advisory Committee and the efforts of USDA and HHS to develop guidance to improve public health. Ensuring that nutrition recommendations remain balanced, practical and firmly rooted in evidence-based science is critical. Recognizing the role of nutrient-dense foods, including meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables, in a well-balanced diet will help us meet our nutritional needs while promoting overall health,” Boozman said.
The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee was established in 1825 to address agricultural concerns within the United States Senate’s standing committee structure. The committee oversees national issues such as crop protection, food security, environmental conservation, farming economics, food programs, forest management, rural growth policies through reviews and studies [source]. It also shapes national policies related to agriculture, nutrition, forestry, rural matters [source], holds jurisdiction over agricultural commodities [source], influences legislation through oversight hearings on food and nutrition issues [source], maintains offices in the U.S. Capitol complex [source], and played a key role in advancing agricultural research throughout its history [source].
The new dietary guidelines are expected to inform school meal standards as well as other federal nutrition programs across the country.
