Food pyramid

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  Dec, 2004  by Jule Klotter

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Every five years the US Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services choose a panel of scientists, responsible for determining national dietary guidelines. These guidelines dictate the content of food labels, school lunch programs, and the government's dietary education program, including its food pyramid. In late August 2004, the 13-member panel released its recommendations amid a flurry of news reports charging unprecedented bias toward the food industry. According to a St. Petersburg Times article (8 Sept. 2003), seven of the 13 members have connections with food industry organizations that include the American Egg Board, the American Cocoa Research Institute, the Peanut Institute, the National Dairy Council, Campbell Soup Co., and Tropicana Products Inc. of Bradenton.

A New York Times article (1 Sept. 2004) criticized the panel for its obvious pro-industry stand on sugar. For the first time since 1980, dietary guidelines fail to advise consumers to avoid too much sugar. Instead, the panel "proposed a guideline that reads, unhelpfully, Choose carbohydrates wisely for good health.'" The Times editorial refers to the panel's own report that includes scientific evidence linking sugar, particularly in forms like high-fructose corn syrup, to obesity. Other studies have shown that the more sugar-laden products people eat, the less likely they are to receive adequate nutrition. A new study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (25 August 2004), reinforces the importance of avoiding added sugar. The study, based on data collected between 1991 and 1999, from over 91,000 participants in the Brigham and Women's Hospital-based Nurses' Health Study II, found more weight-gain and an 80% increased risk for type-2 diabetes among those who drink sugar-sweetened sodas more than once a day compared to women who drink less than one soda a month. Drinking fruit juice (orange, pineapple, or apple) was not associated with a higher risk for diabetes. The dietary panel's refusal to take a stand against high sugar consumption--particularly against sugar-sweetened drinks--means that schools will continue to harbor soda machines and parents will succumb to heavily-promoted fruit punch commercials and provide the sugar-enhanced drinks to young children in the belief that the drinks are healthful.

The sugar industry was, by no means, the only lobby group seeking to influence the government's dietary guidelines. Baked goods have enjoyed an envied place on the food pyramid since the recommendation for bread servings (including bread, cereal, rice, or pasta) rose from four daily servings in the 1950s to six-to-eleven servings. Some nutritionists see this emphasis on so-called "white" carbohydrates as another factor in America's obesity epidemic. Although the new guidelines do not advise consumers to eat less bread, they do urge consumers to eat more fiber and to replace at least three servings of refined grain with whole grains.

In addition to eating more whole grains, the current panel wants consumers to eat more fruits and vegetables and nonfat or low-fat milk and dairy products. Most of the panel's advice, however, is too general to help people make wise food choices. In addition to telling consumers to "choose carbohydrates wisely," the panel says to "consume a variety of foods within and among the basic food groups while staying within energy needs." The panel's position is that obesity results from eating more calories than the body needs to maintain weight and from a lack of exercise. Calories, not nutritional content, are the primary focus. For those who are already fit, the panel members allow "discretionary calories"--calories from products that have little or no nutritional value. Other panel recommendations include choosing low-salt foods, moderation when drinking alcohol, and keeping food safe to eat.

After a period of public comment, ending September 27, 2004, the panel's recommendations are sent to the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services for final approval. The final nutrition report and updated food pyramid are expected to be released early in 2005.

The Food Pyramid Scheme (editorial) The New York Times 1 September 2004

Fritz, Sara. Are they offering advice or ads? St. Petersburg Times 8 September 2003

Harvard School of Public Health. Frequent Consumption of Sugar-sweetened Beverages Linked to Greater Weight Gain and Type 2 Diabetes in Women. (Press release) 24 August 2004. www.hsph.harvard.edu/

Services appointed 13-member 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Dreyfuss. Ira. Food Pyramid Proposal Shuns Refined Grains. The Herald-Sun (Durham, NC) 8/27/04

Zamiska, Nicholas. Food-Pyramid Frenzy. The Wall Street Journal 29 July 2004

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