Bureaucrats mostly find it challenging to see the meat industry’s products fall from the inflated status they’re historically given in the food pyramid, but change has arrived, and we’re advocating for it.
A new report from an advisory committee to the United States Department of Agriculture suggests tweaking the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to recommend that people have at least 2.5 cups of beans and lentils a week. The committee doesn’t just suggest having more peas, beans and lentils — it recommends using them to replace red and processed meats.
We won’t be surprised when meat industry lobbyists panic over the new recommendation for seeing the consumption of legumes as a preferable protein over meat.
In FoA’s previous comments to the committee, we advocated for a vegan dietary pattern and suggested modifications with the protein category. We also advocated that dairy be moved into an entirely new category, and it appears that is now a possibility.
Under the existing guidelines, protein packed legumes are categorized as both vegetables and protein foods. The committee recommended removing them from the vegetable group and instead placing them atop the list of recommended protein-heavy foods.
The committee can no longer ignore the benefits of a plant-based diet. Angela Odoms-Young, vice chair of the advisory committee told NBC News that there’s compelling evidence suggesting that “a dietary pattern that is high in beans, peas, and lentils is associated with lower chronic disease risk.”
The report also coincides with a growing number of studies published on long-term associations with meat-based diets and debilitating cardio-vascular ailments, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.
The committee stresses that these updated guidelines are directed towards addressing preventable diseases, like heart disease.
Adopting a vegan diet is a great place to start. Not to mention, you won’t be contributing to the unspeakable misery that occurs when humans turn other animals into consumer goods.
The 60-day public comment period on the Committee’s Scientific Report open through Feb. 10, 2025. Please submit a comment in support of the new guidelines, which finally knocks meat off the top of a long-held pedestal.
More information on how to submit comments can be found at https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/public-comment-departments.