Nutrition For Mortals Can We Trust Our Dietary Guidelines? (Part 2: The Great Pyramid)
Jan 8, 2025
Explore the shifting credibility of U.S. dietary guidelines as the hosts dissect the controversial origins of the food pyramid. Suspicions about big food industry's influence come to light, revealing a complex web of politics and nutrition. Hear insights from insider Louise Light on how serving sizes evolved in response to industry pressure. Plus, discover why grains took center stage and the implications for public health messaging. It's a riveting look at the past that shapes our eating habits today!
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Guidelines Versus Graphics
- The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are a written federal document released every five years that guide policy and programs.
- Graphic guides like the Food Pyramid are separate USDA visuals that translate those guidelines for the public.
Read The Guidelines, Not Just The Art
- Distinguish between the written Dietary Guidelines and their public graphics before judging policy.
- Evaluate recommendations by reading the guideline text, not just the utensil-like visuals.
Printing Stopped By Industry Pushback
- The USDA printed a new Pyramid in 1991 but stopped after food industry pushback and sent it back for more testing.
- That led to a year of design tweaks and focus groups before the 1992 Pyramid release.
