GMA dietician on dietary guidelines as silver lining for industry group?

[Tamar Knox]

 

"The 2010 Dietary Guidelines make it clear that every stakeholder has a role to play in helping to address the current epidemic of obesity. It is our collective responsibility to help consumers take small steps toward building an overall healthier diet. This means that the food industry continues to provide consumers with a variety of products to meet their health and wellness goals.

At the same time, public health groups and the government must provide consumers with educational tools and strategies needed for success. Each small step that we make easier for the American consumer they will be empowered to take further actions to improve their lifestyles. "

From:  http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Financial-Industry/2010-Dietary-Gu...

Melissa Musiker is the director of nutrition and health for the Grocery Manufacturers Assoc.  It seems Ms. Musiker is placing responsibility on public health groups and government and not the industry.  Her claim that the new dietary guidelines signal a chance for manufacturers to meet the challenge.  Why has the industry taken such a long time to simply provide better choices with the previous guidelines.  Is Ms. Musiker indicatin that without the guidelines, nothing could have been done to improve the products made by the companies her association represents?

 

[Estelle Menz]

It seems your Salt Institute is the not as neutral on the new guidelines as your food manufacturers appear to be.  The guidelines are may make food taste awful from the Institute's perspective. I find the guidelines rather conservative.  Your government could have simply instructed Americans to eat less meat.  I suppose that would have made your cattlemen unhappy.

http://www.saltinstitute.org/Issues-in-focus/Dietary-Guidelines