Urging the Integration of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee's Recommendations in the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Adopted at the 83rd Annual Meeting in 2015
WHEREAS, The United States Conference of Mayors recognizes the value of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) in designing and implementing nutrition and food assistance programs, developing health and nutrition education messages, and informing the decision-making of health professionals and policymakers; and
WHEREAS, there are major concerns about diet-related diseases, low average intakes of healthful foods, and high average consumption of unhealthful foods among Americans currently; and
WHEREAS, there are major concerns about the degree of environmental sustainability associated with the American diet, the food production methods supporting that diet, and the impact on natural resources and long-term food security; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) appoint a Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) consisting of nationally recognized experts in the fields of nutrition and health to conduct thorough systematic reviews of the relevant scientific literature in order to provide insightful evidence-based recommendations; and
WHEREAS, the DGAC has recommended in their Scientific Report various dietary patterns that have been found to be the most health-promoting, sustainable, and likely to ensure food security now and in the future for all Americans; and
WHEREAS, the DGAC does not include any discussion of environmental sustainability beyond its relationship to nutrition, health, and food security, and finds that the most health-promoting dietary patterns are also the most sustainable; and
WHEREAS, incorporating the DGAC's recommendations in the final dietary guidelines could contribute to population-wide improvements in nutrition and health outcomes as well as improved food security.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors supports the incorporation of sustainability in the final dietary guidelines as they relate to ensuring a safe and nutritious diet for all Americans now and in the future; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors supports the creation of dietary guidelines that encourage Americans to adopt dietary patterns that are higher in plant-based foods and lower in animal-based foods than current average American diets, as such patterns have been found in systematic reviews to be the most health-promoting and sustainable; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors urges the Secretaries of USDA and HHS and their respective staffs to incorporate the DGAC's evidence-based recommendations regarding healthy dietary patterns and sustainability in the formulation of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. --
Projected Cost: Unknown