It was decided about 15 years ago that non-government scientists, approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services, should be assembled on a committee to host nutrition hearings and write recommended updates. The most recent 40-page edition of the guidelines was released last May while lawyers from the government and the Physicians Committee battled in U.S. District Court. The food pyramid is the most recognizable element of the guidelines, an illustration showing that grains, fruits and vegetables are more essential building blocks of health than dairy products, meats and fats. With color-coded charts, the guidelines roll out details about smart eating, highlighting the benefits of specific foods, suggesting portion sizes, urging exercise and warning about fats, salts and oils. Doctors and others in the health care business consult the guidelines to keep current on nutrition.
Schools follow the guidelines while serving federally subsidized school breakfasts and lunches.
And the guidelines are watched closely by food producers. The cattle, dairy, sugar and other industries have jockeyed for years to have their foods endorsed in government publications. The newest guidelines are widely seen as an improvement over the last version. They give greater emphasis to plant-based foods and the perils of excessive sugar and alcohol intake. The soybean industry was pleased, for example, that the guidelines' 2000 edition contained a footnote listing calcium-enriched soy milk as an alternative to dairy products.