Telling U.S. citizens what to eat can get messy. Federal dietary guidelines are shaped by the clashes of science, politics, and industry money—all against the backdrop of rising obesity, chronic disease, and skyrocketing health care costs.
In January, those tensions came to a head during a public comment meeting on the latest recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC). Stakeholders—ranging from health providers to advocacy groups and industry leaders—voiced their concerns about the committee’s newly released 421-page report.
