Pulaski Times

U.S. Senators John Boozman and Bill Cassidy have raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the development of federal nutrition guidelines by the Biden administration. In a letter addressed to Secretaries Becerra and Vilsack, the senators emphasized the need for a transparent review process based on scientific evidence for the forthcoming 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

"The Dietary Guidelines are an important foundation to support up-to-date nutritional information that helps guide federal programs and enable consumers to make healthy decisions," wrote Senators Boozman and Cassidy. They expressed worries about the lack of transparency in the current scientific review by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) regarding alcohol and sugar intake guidelines.

The senators highlighted the recommendations made by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) in 2017 to increase transparency in the selection process of DGAC members. They inquired about how HHS and USDA reviewed potential conflicts of interest and ensured a balance of scientific perspectives among DGAC members.

Furthermore, the senators questioned why HHS and USDA aggregated ethical disclosures of DGAC members instead of providing more individualized information as recommended by NASEM. They also asked about the steps the DGAC is taking to ensure well-reviewed recommendations in its public meetings and how it is collaborating with NASEM and the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) on studies related to alcohol consumption.

In addition, the senators sought information on the role of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) in engaging with the DGAC and the scientific studies supporting potential lower alcohol intake recommendations. They inquired about the DGAC's engagement with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding added sugars consumption and how public comments from a listening session will be considered in the final scientific report.

The senators also asked if the DGAC is consulting with NASEM on revisions to Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) levels and whether past scientific evidence submitted in previous Dietary Guidelines processes is being reviewed or if new reviews are being conducted.

The letter concluded with a request for detailed responses to these questions by April 29, 2024, to ensure transparency and trust in the development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.