Groups File Lawsuit Against USDA's MyPyramid
Suit is also pushing vegetarian diets.
Compiled by staff
Published: Jan 18, 2011
The non-profit group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has filed a lawsuit challenging USDA's "MyPyramid" dietary recommendations with not protecting the average American but special agribusiness interests. The suit filed in U.S. District Court against Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, charges that "MyPyramid" has been controversial since its introduction because it conveys an abstract message that must be translated into concrete food choices, resulting in consumer confusion.
The suit also contends the nutrition diagram retains food groupings and proportions challenged by nutrition experts and fails to promote overall health and well-being, does not follow up-to-date nutrition research and offers unrealistic nutritional goals. The group would like to see adopted its own "Power Plate" diagram and dietary guidelines, which the plaintiffs say are easy to understand and reflect current scientific knowledge.
The group quotes the American Dietetic Association as saying vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. They claim well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the lifecycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes.
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