New edition of federal dietary guidelines encourage Americans to drink more milk
January 8, 2016
The new federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans deliver an emphatic message that Americans should consume more dairy products – an important endorsement of the irreplaceable role that dairy foods play in American’s diets.
The eighth edition of the guidelines, released Jan. 7, revealed that more than 80 percent of the U.S. population is not consuming the recommended amount of dairy. The government recommends that a healthy eating pattern include three servings a day of fat-free or low-fat dairy foods such as milk, yogurt and cheese. The guidelines also defined milk as a nutrient-dense food, one that improves bone health and decreases the risk of heart disease and obesity.
Last May, NMPF had provided extensive testimony to the advisory committee that compiled the guidelines, reminding them that key nutrients missing from Americans’ diets, such as calcium, Vitamin D and potassium, are found in abundance in dairy foods.
“The 2015 dietary guidelines give Americans an easy New Year’s resolution for 2016 to improve their health: consume more dairy foods,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “These guidelines reinforce that dairy is the answer to a healthier diet.”
NMPF, National Dairy Council and several other dairy organizations released a joint statement Thursday affirming the “unrivaled contribution made by dairy foods.” The statement added that “the good news for people across the country is that dairy foods taste great, are accessible almost anywhere, contain essential nutrients and come in a variety of options from lactose-free to low-fat, fat-free or lower sodium — all at a reasonable cost.”
The DGA serves as the basis in developing federal food, nutrition, and health policies and programs, including the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs. It is also the basis for federal nutrition education materials designed for the public and for the nutrition education components of HHS and USDA food programs.
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