Source: MEATINGPLACE, 1/7/16

Among the recommendations in the new dietary guidelines for Americans is a call for men and teen boys to reduce meat and poultry consumption and increase intake of vegetables.

The guidelines place no specific limitation on cholesterol but advise people to reduce saturated fat to no more than 10 percent of daily calories, which should help reduce cholesterol levels, senior officials from said on a conference call.

Average intake of total protein foods is close to recommendations, but all subgroups of Americans are eating less seafood than recommended, according to the report. Consumption of nuts, seeds and soy products are close to recommended levels.

For men and teen boys, consumption of meat, poultry and eggs is currently higher than recommended levels, the guidelines state, while average seafood intake is below recommendations for all age-sex groups.

Shifts are needed within the protein foods group to increase seafood intake, but the foods to be replaced depend on the individual’s current intake from the other protein subgroups.

“Some individuals, especially teen boys and adult men, also need to reduce overall intake of protein foods by decreasing intakes of meats, poultry, and eggs and increasing amounts of vegetables or other underconsumed food groups,” the report states.

Strategies to increase the variety of protein foods include incorporating seafood as the protein choice in meals twice a week in place of meat, poultry, or eggs, and using legumes or nuts and seeds in mixed dishes instead of some meat or poultry, the guidelines recommend.

The report notes that the commonly consumed protein foods are beef (especially ground beef), chicken, pork, eggs and processed meats such as hot dogs, sausages, ham, luncheon meats.

The 2015 dietary guidelines expand on 2010’s recommendations by focusing on overall eating patterns rather than specific, individual dietary components in past guidelines such as foods, food groups and nutrients.

The North American Meat Institute (NAMI), National Chicken Council and other industry groups praised the new guidelines for affirming the role of meat and poultry in a healthy, balanced diet.

“It is clear the agencies took great care in reviewing the science as well as comments on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee report to develop a common sense policy document that all Americans can use to help them make healthy food choices,” NAMI Chief Executive Barry Carpenter said in a statement.

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Ct.), however, said the guidelines should have included the sustainability elements suggested by the advisory committee and posed stronger limits on meat consumption.  

“While the new dietary guidelines make a number of positive changes, the guidelines omit the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s suggested limits on consumption of red and processed meats. I fought hard to make sure that these science-based recommendations by the Committee were included and I am disappointed that they were ultimately watered down," she said in a statement. "We must apply the principles of sustainability and resilience to nutrition and dietary practices in order to ensure that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and nutritious foods.”

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