Senators question omission of red meat from dietary recommendations

Federal officials last week expanded the comment period on proposed new nutritional guidelines, after a contingent of U.S. senators raised concerns about the recommendations.
Iowa’s senators, Republicans Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, both signed the letter their colleagues sent to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services asking why lean red meat, in particular, was not included as a protein source in a balanced diet.
The new deadline to comment on the guidelines is May 8.
Matt Deppe, CEO of the Iowa Cattleman’s Association, said he was concerned about the recommendations, too.
“It sends the message to eat less red meat,” Deppe said in a phone interview with The Graphic-Advocate last week. “That’s not only negative, but it’s not based on good nutritional science. What precedent does it set?”
Read more in the March 25 edition.