The months-long process to determine the federal government’s food recommendations for the next five years is currently scheduled to continue through 2025. The timing means Biden officials will miss an opportunity to finalize new guidelines before the Trump administration takes office.
Changing the terms in the middle of an update is unprecedented in recent history, but previous versions have come close. The 2005 update ended days before Inauguration Day, and the 2020 revision came a month before President Biden took office.
The guidelines are hotly debated in Washington because they affect a wide range of federal programs, from nutrition labeling regulations to school lunch standards. These are traditionally based on scientific reports from external experts.
The committee has been meeting since last year to address a series of controversial questions, and its recommendations are not expected to be released until mid-December. It typically takes several months after a report is prepared before authorities issue guidelines.
The schedule was decided long before Election Day, a person familiar with the process told CBS News.
An HHS spokesperson would not comment on when the report would be released, other than to confirm that it is expected to be released “later this year.”
“HHS and USDA continue to demonstrate a commitment to transparency, fairness, and scientific integrity throughout the process,” the spokesperson said.
Former officials say it will be virtually impossible for the Biden administration to complete an update before leaving office. Many tasks remain, including reviewing research findings and developing and testing modern messaging through tools such as MyPlate, an alternative to the food pyramid.
“Given the complexity and considering the perspectives of different departments, this is a very heavy burden,” said Dr. Brett Giroir, who served as assistant secretary for health during the Trump administration’s last revision.
Input from the public and government agencies must also be incorporated into the guidelines before the agriculture and health sectors reach an agreement.
“In my opinion, when Congress directs two agencies to work together on something, that’s an intended tension and, hopefully, to move the end product in the right direction. And when HHS and USDA have different “I think people certainly agree that a lot of the time, they come from different backgrounds,” said Brandon Lipps, who served as USDA’s deputy assistant secretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services during the Trump administration. Ta.
One expected battle is over the “emphasis on plant sources” of protein raised by committee members last month as part of a broader recommendation to “move” to a more “nutritious, plant-based diet.” This may be related to the proposal.
On the campaign trail, Trump accused his rival of wanting to “stop people from eating red meat.” In a statement last month, the National Cattle and Beef Association called the recommendations “uncoordinated” and “unrealistic.”
In addition to vegetables, beans, peas and lentils could also be listed as protein sources in the draft. Red meat will be moved below the ranking of protein foods due to health concerns such as cardiovascular disease.
The committee’s analysis concluded that red meat is most often in need of substitution in Americans’ diets to meet nutritional goals while reducing health risks.
Committee member Christopher Gardner said: “Red meat, processed or not, was targeted for cuts more than chicken or eggs, so I would put red meat last.” “It was,” he said.
How Trump administration officials can change the guidelines
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made the commission’s changes a central part of his “Make America Healthy Again.” platform.
President Kennedy said in September: “What we need to do is change the commission, and it will make appropriate recommendations and tell people not to eat these foods.” .
It could also provide a means to achieve President Kennedy’s goals, such as reducing ultra-processed foods in school lunches. If confirmed as secretary, Kennedy and his USDA counterpart would have final authority over the content of the guidelines.
“If Congress wanted a group of scientists to create dietary guidelines, Congress would have legislated it. So the committee makes recommendations and the Secretary takes input from that report,” Lipps said. said.
Completely ignoring the committee’s work would be unprecedented, but in the past ministries, often driven by career civil servants, sometimes disagreed with some of the recommendations.
“The process isn’t perfect and there’s bureaucracy out there. But I believe the best way is to have a transparent scientific committee where everyone knows where it’s coming from.” ,” Giroir said.
