scholarly journals Dead People Don’t Eat: Food Governmentenomics and Conflicts-of-Interest in the USDA and FDA

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Steier
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Protection ◽  
Conflict Of Interest ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Revolving Door ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Federal Advisory Committees

Conflicts of interest permeate the governance of the federal advisory committees that issue recommendations to consumer protection agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and therefore, American consumers need a federal solution to protect their health from biased recommendations. In order to promote a business-friendly food pyramid, agribusinesses and food industrialists lobby for dietary guidelines that boost their sales. The resulting guidelines cause great damage to public health, spur environmental pollution, and result in a loss of democratic freedoms. As a result, the FDA and USDA's bifurcated task of protecting both food producers and consumers, creates a conflict of interest within the agencies that often favor the food industry over consumer protection.This paper describes the problems embedded within the FDA and USDA's conflict of interest and the resulting revolving door of the heavily invested lobbyists, and finally, suggests statutory amendments to solve this problem. The proposed amendments will dispense with ineffective disclosure requirements and eliminate the possibility of waiving conflicts of interest for advisory committee members. By rebalancing the composition of the advisory committees and the scientific basis for the dietary recommendations, the proposed amendments will close the loopholes that large food industrialists currently abuse. As a result, consumer protection agencies, such as the FDA and USDA, are empowered to police the federal advisory committees issuing the dietary recommendations and prevent government officials from breaching their fiduciary duties to American consumers.

scholarly journals Comparison of children's dietary intake patterns with US dietary guidelines

2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise M. Brady ◽  
Christine H. Lindquist ◽  
Sara L. Herd ◽  
Michael I. Goran
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
American Children

Monitoring dietary intake patterns among children is important in order to explore and prevent the onset of adult health problems. The aim of the present study was to compare children's dietary intakes with national recommendations and to determine whether sex or ethnic differences were evident. This was done using a methodology that allows assessment of intake from the major components of the Food Guide Pyramid developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA: ). The sample studied included 110 African-American and Caucasian males and females (mean age 9·9 years, BMI 20·1 kg/m2) from Birmingham, AL, USA, who were participating in a study investigating the development of obesity. Dietary data were based on three 24 h recalls and food group intake was determined using the USDA Pyramid Servicing Database. The results indicated that a high percentage of subjects failed to meet the recommended number of servings from each of the food groups. For example, only 5 % and 9 % met fruit and dietary group recommendations respectively. Consumption of foods from the Pyramid ‘tip’ (including discretionary fat and added sugar) contributed almost 50 % of the diet. African-Americans were more likely to meet requirements for the meat group, with a higher proportion of Caucasians meeting dietary recommendations. Males were more likely to meet the vegetable group guidelines although females consumed more energy per day from discretionary fat. In conclusion, these results suggest that implementation of nutrition education programmes may be important for promoting healthy nutrition among American children.

A Nutritional Assessment Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen E. Adair ◽  
Jeffery L. Heileson ◽  
Matthew N. Peterson ◽  
Rodney G. Bowden ◽  
Jeffrey S. Forsse
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Renal Function ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Nutritional Assessment ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Model ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Dietary Intakes

Objective: Dietary guidelines from the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are advised to individuals with mid-spectrum (stages G3a and G3b) chronic kidney disease (CKD), yet typical diets in individuals with CKD remain understudied. The purpose of this study is to assess the self-reported dietary pattern of subjects with diagnosed mid-spectrum CKD and compare the normal dietary intakes to the KDOQI and USDA recommendations. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 20 participants with mid-spectrum CKD (n = 6 male [M]; n = 14 female [F]) was conducted to assess subjects’ self-reported dietary intakes for an average of 5 days. Micro and macronutrient analyses were compared to the KDOQI and USDA guidelines by sex to assess nutrition, and an exploratory stepwise multiple linear regression model was used to identify predictors of poor renal function;p-values were considered significant at the α = 0.05 level. Results: All subjects met the recommended caloric intake, but the average consumptions of protein (F = 0.86 ± 0.29g/kg body weight/day, M = 1.18 ± 0.45g/kg body weight/day), saturated fat (F = 12.17 ± 2.28%, M = 13.86 ± 1.20%), and sodium (F = 3.78 ± 2.51g, M = 4.21 ± 0.39g) were high (p < 0.05 for all). The average fiber intakewas low (F = 13.64 ± 4.09g, M = 14.82 ± 7.28g) as well as folate, vitamins D and K, zinc, and calcium intakes compared with the recommendations (p < 0.05 for all). The only significant contributor to higher renal function in the exploratory regression analysis was male sex (p = 0.035).

scholarly journals Menu Descriptions and Nutrient Content of Food Items in U.S. Restaurants (FS02-01-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Krobath ◽  
William Masters ◽  
Megan Mueller
Keyword(s):  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Trans Fat ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Nutrient Data

Abstract Objectives This study concerns how the description of foods on restaurant menus relates to their nutrient content as disclosed on company websites. We aimed to test halo effects, regarding how claims about some desirable features might be associated with the presence of other attributes. Methods We used item descriptions and nutrient data for food items (n = 92,949) at the top-selling restaurant chains (n = 92) from 2012 through 2017 in the United States, compiled by the MenuStat project. We classified items into 4 types (mains, appetizers, desserts, sides) and claims into 3 groups using 29 search terms based on consumer interests in health (e.g., “nutritious”), product sourcing (e.g., “local” or “organic”), and vegetal items (vegetarian or vegan). Nutrient data focus on 4 dietary recommendations to limit sodium (mg), trans-fat (g) and saturated fats (% of energy), and to increase fiber (g). We also report calories per item (kcal) and its share from carbohydrates, protein and total fat (%). We used multiple regression to test whether nutrient content was associated with menu claims, controlling for year and restaurant brand, the item being marked as “shareable”, on a kid's menu, or regional and limited-time offerings. Methods and hypotheses were preregistered on As-Predicted.com. Results Contrary to our prediction, nutrient content was more often aligned with U.S. dietary guidelines when their description did include claims. With 3 claim types, 4 food types and 4 recommendations we test 48 possible cases. In 25 (52%) we found alignment between claims and nutrient recommendations, e.g., main dishes with health-related claims had 2% less calories from saturated fat (P < 0.01) and 142 mg less sodium (P < 0.01). In 3 of 48 cases (7%), claims were contrary to recommendations, all of which were desserts with sourcing claims which had more sodium, more trans-fat and more saturated fat than other desserts (all P < 0.01). In 20 of 48 cases (42%) there was no significant difference between items with and without claims. Conclusions Items described as vegetarian/vegan or with sourcing and health claims had nutrient contents that were more often aligned with dietary guidelines than other items. Menu labeling that communicates meal content more directly, such as nutrient fact panels, could inform choice and build trust in restaurant meals. Funding Sources None.

scholarly journals Dietary recommendations: comparing dietary guidelines from Brazil and the United States

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 2050-2058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosely Sichieri ◽  
Stephanie E. Chiuve ◽  
Rosângela Alves Pereira ◽  
Aline Cristine Souza Lopes ◽  
Walter C. Willett
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
The United States ◽  
Whole Grains ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Fat Intake ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity ◽  
Fresh Foods

The Brazilian dietary guidelines are based in part on mainstream United States' recommendations, in spite of the criticisms and shortcomings of the American guidelines. In this paper, Brazilian food guidelines are summarized and discussed in comparison with the USA recommendations. American and Brazilian dietary recommendations are quite similar in many aspects, particularly those related to variety in the diet, the importance of physical activity and weight management. Different to American guidelines, those from Brazil advise people to choose fresh foods, to prefer healthier types of fat, to limit trans fat intake and to eat good sources of protein, but does not recommend the consumption of whole grains. Besides the challenges related to their implementation, indicators for the evaluation of the effectiveness of these guidelines should be established from the beginning, particularly those related to changes in dietary habits and the prevalence of obesity.

scholarly journals The evolution of the heart-healthy diet for vascular health: A walk through time

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Mercado Fischer ◽  
Vincent A Pallazola ◽  
Helen Xun ◽  
Miguel Cainzos-Achirica ◽  
Erin D Michos
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Healthcare Spending ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vegetarian Diet ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Healthy Diet ◽  
Vascular Health ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Obesity Epidemic

The rate of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality reduction in the United States has plateaued recently, despite the development of novel preventive pharmacotherapies, increased access to care, and healthcare spending. This is largely due to American’s poor dietary patterns and practices causing increasing trends in the prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. For decades, dietary guidelines on ‘healthy diets’ to reduce CVD risk, grounded in epidemiological research, have been nationally distributed to Americans. In this review, we highlight landmark events in modern nutrition science and how these have framed past and current understandings of diet and health. We also follow the evolution of dietary recommendations for Americans throughout the years, with an emphasis on recommendations aimed to reduce risk for CVD and mortality. Secondly, we examine how the low-fat ideology came to dominate America in the last decades of the 20th century and subsequently contributed to an excess intake of refined carbohydrates which, in the context of an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, may have fueled the obesity epidemic. We then examine the current major evidence-based dietary patterns and specific dietary approaches to reduce CVD risk, reviewing the literature surrounding nutritional components of the heart-healthy diet and discussing the dietary patterns proven most effective for CVD prevention: the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, the Mediterranean diet, and the healthy vegetarian diet. Finally, we discuss emerging dietary trends, considerations for nutrition counseling, and future directions within the important field of nutrition, with the ultimate goal of improving vascular health.

scholarly journals Global Land Use Implications of Dietary Trends: A Tragedy of the Commons

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Rizvi ◽  
Chris Pagnutti ◽  
Chris T. Bauch ◽  
Madhur Anand
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Tragedy Of The Commons ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Global Food Security ◽  
The Commons ◽  
Agricultural Land Management

AbstractGlobal food security and agricultural land management represent two urgent and intimately related challenges that humans must face in the coming decades. Here, we quantify the changes in the global agricultural land footprint if the world were to adhere to the dietary guidelines put forth by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), while accounting for the land use change incurred by import/export required to meet those guidelines. We analyze data at country, continent, and global levels. USDA guidelines are viewed as an improvement on the current land-intensive diet of the average American, but despite this our results show that global adherence to USDA guidelines would require up to 1 gigahectare of additional agricultural land--roughly the size of Canada. The results also show a strong divide between Eastern and Western hemispheres. Because countries increasingly import most of their food, meeting USDA guidelines could cause a Tragedy of the Commons, where self-interested actors race to over-exploit the shared resource of global agricultural lands. National dietary guidelines and practices thus need to be coordinated internationally in order to spare our remaining natural lands, in much the same way that countries are coordinating greenhouse gas emissions.

scholarly journals Effect Of Gender And Lifestyle Behaviors On BMI Trends In A Sample Of The First State’s Undergraduate Population

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malcolm J. D’Souza ◽  
Karri-Jo E. Walls ◽  
Christine Rojas ◽  
Lynn M. Everett ◽  
Derald E. Wentzien
Keyword(s):  
Adult Population ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Body ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Frequency Distributions ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
The Mean

The 2010 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report indicates that 63.4% of Delaware’s adult population is overweight and 28% is obese. Here, the authors reveal analyses acquired from detailed investigations about the importance of gender, and other lifestyle factors and behaviors on the Body Mass Index (BMI) trends amongst an indiscriminate sample of the Wesley College (Wesley) undergraduate population. A 25-question paper-format survey was distributed to 307 randomly chosen Wesley undergraduates. The accrued qualitative (or categorical) data were transferred to an Excel spreadsheet to construct and observe frequency distributions. A Chi-square test of independence (χ2) was performed between BMI status (normal, overweight, obese) and the following factors: gender, diet plan, adherence to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPlate nutrition guide, use of the seasonal flu shot, weekly workout schedule, supplement usage, participation on athletic teams, questioning of label nutritional facts, and the use of added salt in food. A 2-sample proportion test was performed between students who were overweight or obese for the same factors. Also performed were t-tests for mean BMI for those who followed USDA MyPlate guidelines and for those who did not. An analysis of 278 completed surveys show that 29.5% of the Wesley respondents are overweight and 19.8% are obese. The mean BMI for males was statistically higher than the mean BMI for females. The mean BMI for students living on-campus was statistically higher than the mean BMI for students living off-campus. The results also demonstrate that adhering to the USDA dietary recommendations for fruit and dairy can be important factors in reducing the risk of obesity. 

scholarly journals Do Canadians meet Canada's Food Guide's recommendations for fruits and vegetables?

2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 234-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Black ◽  
Jean-Michel Billette
Keyword(s):  
Health Survey ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Canadian Community Health Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Usual Intake ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Dark Green

National dietary guidelines pertaining to the intake of fruits and vegetables (FV) were recently amended, in both Canada and the United States, to provide specific recommendations about dark green and orange vegetables and juice consumption. However, little is known about the extent to which Canadians meet the updated recommendations for FV. This study fills current gaps by applying the National Cancer Institute's methodology for assessing the distribution of usual intake of foods to examine reported FV intake using 24-h recalls from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey, cycle 2.2, a nationally representative health survey. After identifying plausible respondents, usual intake distributions were estimated after adjustment for respondents' age, sex, body mass index, frequency of FV consumption, sequence effect, weekend–weekday effect, income, and ethnicity. The majority of Canadians did not meet Health Canada's 2007 recommendations for FV intake. Only 26% of the population aged 2 years and older consumed the minimum number of daily servings recommended for their respective age–sex group. Approximately 1 in 5 Canadians consumed at least 1 daily serving of dark green vegetables, and 9% consumed 1 or more daily servings of orange vegetables or their substitutes. Juice was a substantial contributor to FV intake, particularly for children and teens who, on average, consumed 32%–41% of their daily FV servings as juice. These findings provide insight into the quantity and composition of FV intake and adherence to national dietary recommendations in Canada.

scholarly journals Improving the trustworthiness of findings from nutrition evidence syntheses: assessing risk of bias and rating the certainty of evidence

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas Schwingshackl ◽  
Holger J. Schünemann ◽  
Joerg J. Meerpohl
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Assessment Development ◽  
Nutrition Research ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Nutritional Studies ◽  
Grade Approach

AbstractSuboptimal diet is recognized as a leading modifiable risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Non-randomized studies (NRSs) with patient relevant outcomes provide many insights into diet–disease relationships. Dietary guidelines are based predominantly on findings from systematic reviews of NRSs—mostly prospective observational studies, despite that these have been repeatedly criticized for yielding potentially less trustworthy results than randomized controlled trials (RCTs). It is assumed that these are a result of bias due to prevalent-user designs, inappropriate comparators, residual confounding, and measurement error. In this article, we aim to highlight the importance of applying risk of bias (RoB) assessments in nutritional studies to improve the credibility of evidence of systematic reviews. First, we discuss the importance and challenges of dietary RCTs and NRSs, and provide reasons for potentially less trustworthy results of dietary studies. We describe currently used tools for RoB assessment (Cochrane RoB, and ROBINS-I), describe the importance of rigorous RoB assessment in dietary studies and provide examples that further the understanding of the key issues to overcome in nutrition research. We then illustrate, by comparing the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach with current approaches used by United States Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the World Cancer Research Fund, how to establish trust in dietary recommendations. Our overview shows that the GRADE approach provides more transparency about the single domains for grading the certainty of the evidence and the strength of recommendations. Despite not increasing the certainty of evidence itself, we expect that the rigorous application of the Cochrane RoB and the ROBINS-I tools within systematic reviews of both RCTs and NRSs and their integration within the GRADE approach will strengthen the credibility of dietary recommendations.

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