Are Nutrition Guidelines Influenced by the Meat Industry?

The latest report on red meat released by the WHO has taken the world by storm. Yet, this year’s dietary recommendations won’t include cutting back on meat. It seems that once again, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are going to reject the guidelines provided by their own expert panel. As a result, the nth that the latest edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans will not make any claims about processed meat or environmental sustainability.

Annual meat consumption worldwide is 41.90 kilograms per person. Over the past 40 years it has increased from 70 million to 250 million tons. Beef alone generates over $95 billion in the U.S. alone. Every year, the meat industry brings approximately $894 billion to the American economy, from which $10.8 millions go to political campaigns. It’s no wonder meat producers rule the market.

Experts claim that the U.S. Department of Agriculture not only regulates the meat industry, but also promotes it. This problem started a long time ago. In 1977, a Senate committee report recommended that Americans decrease meat and high-fat products, and eat more fish and poultry. A representative from the American National Cattlemen’s Association replied with “I think that not to be a correct recommendation” and “decrease is a bad word.”

Similar conflicts took place over the years. Meat producers have done everything possible to give the impression that meat and dairy products are the most nutritious foods out there. At the same time, health advocates have tried to educate customers on the dangers of saturated fat. For this reason, the food pyramid has been revised more than once. The latest tactic used by meat producers is to attack the scientific research that suggests a drop in meat consumption. The best thing a consumer can do is make an informed decision based on recommendations from health professionals.