The Biden-Harris administration’s Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee is preparing to recommend plant-based proteins over red meat, but this announcement has been strategically delayed until after the election. Critics argue that the timing indicates the administration may be concerned about alienating voters who favor traditional meat-based diets.
The committee, appointed by the Biden-Harris administration, has proposed moving beans, peas, and lentils to the forefront of dietary recommendations, placing these plant-based proteins above meat and poultry. During recent discussions, committee member Deirdre Tobias, a Harvard nutritionist, argued that Americans face a “branding crisis” around protein and should broaden their perception of protein sources to include more plants.
Biden-Harris diet panel to elevate plant proteins over meat in snub to farm voters https://t.co/5XNuF5kHjh
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) October 31, 2024
Industry leaders in the meat sector have voiced opposition, warning that the proposed guidelines disregard the nutritional benefits of red meat. Shalene McNeill of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association argued that red meat helps meet key dietary needs, and that reducing its importance may lead to nutritional gaps. Bryan Humphreys, CEO of the National Pork Producers Council, noted that plant proteins are less nutrient-dense than meat and that a shift away from animal proteins could harm public health.
These guidelines, while advisory, influence federal dietary standards, public health recommendations, and school meal programs, making them highly impactful. The decision to delay the announcement has led some to speculate that the administration is cautious about the backlash these guidelines may trigger.
This proposed dietary shift aligns with the administration’s environmental objectives, as the agriculture sector has been a focal point in discussions on carbon emissions. Former climate envoy John Kerry has previously suggested that changes in agriculture are necessary to achieve emissions targets. However, many Americans feel that such dietary guidelines conflict with their preferences and values.
aWith Election Day drawing near, the delay in releasing the guidelines has raised questions about the administration’s transparency and intentions. Some suggest that by postponing the announcement, the administration is hoping to sidestep a debate over the guidelines’ impact on American dietary traditions until after voters have cast their ballots.
