Food and pharmaceutical industries have taken control of the Dietary Guidelines, says expert.

Are the dietary choices of millions of school children and ⁤hospital patients being influenced by ties to the food and pharmaceutical industry within⁢ the⁢ government agency responsible for establishing those choices? ​This question has raised concerns about the‌ integrity of the American diet.

A recent study conducted‍ by the Nutrition Coalition​ revealed ⁣that 95 percent of the members of the 2020 expert committee for the ⁣Dietary Guidelines Advisory panel ‌had conflicts of interest with the food or pharmaceutical industries.​ These conflicts of interest have only increased in the upcoming 2025 panel, leading⁢ to claims that the‍ USDA has been influenced⁤ by these industries.

Nina Teicholz,‌ founder of‍ the Nutrition Coalition, ⁢expressed alarm over the situation, stating, “We are still ​seeing epidemic rates of obesity, diabetes, ⁤and many other diet-related diseases, which ⁤are ‍crippling our national economy and our health. ⁤At the root of ‌our problem ​is our dietary policy.”

The disclosures released by the committee for⁣ the 2025 Advisory members reveal funding from numerous large food and pharmaceutical industries,⁤ including Pfizer, Novo‌ Nordisk, Beyond Meat, Eli ​Lilly and Company, and Abbott industries. ⁣However, these disclosures‍ lack individual ​attribution, making it difficult​ to​ identify specific conflicts of interest.

‘Large Captive​ Population’

Transparency is ⁣crucial when it comes to guidelines that impact the​ entire American society, according to​ Teicholz. She emphasized the significance of the Dietary Guidelines, stating, ‍”By federal law,‌ all federal‍ programs must adhere⁤ to ‌it, including school lunches. A huge amount of money pours ⁤into these programs; they are considered the gold standard. No other policy has a greater influence on​ the food supply.”

Teicholz further highlighted the ⁣issue of a “large captive population,” explaining ⁤that individuals in schools, hospitals, and prisons are essentially trapped into following these dietary guidelines.

In a press release on Jan. 19, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary‍ Xavier Becerra stated that the ‍agency will ‌be ⁣guided by science⁣ in the upcoming panel’s work. The ‌goal is to improve the health and wellbeing of all Americans.

However,⁤ some claims made by panelists have already faced ‌criticism. Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, who received a significant amount of money ⁤from Novo ‍Nordisk, ⁣the creators of the weight loss drug Ozempic, stated‍ on a‌ recent episode of⁤ “60 Minutes” that ‌obesity​ is primarily a genetic ​”brain disease,” dismissing the impact of lifestyle choices.

Dr. Christopher Gardner, another panelist,‍ has been vocal ⁣about his veganism and has advocated for ⁣plant-based diets.