WASHINGTON (July 11, 2019) –
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef
Checkoff, told members of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) in
oral comments that an overwhelming body of scientific evidence shows that healthy
diets including red meat, like beef, support optimal health and well-being.

“Beef is a high-quality protein powerhouse providing a unique
combination of bioavailable iron, zinc and B vitamins essential to building and
maintaining strength from infancy through our later years,” said Shalene
McNeill, PhD, RD, NCBA Executive Director of Nutrition Research.  

NCBA also emphasized to the committee that beef is rich in
nostalgia and nutrients and has been enjoyed for centuries and continues to be
part of most Americans’ diets, traditions and celebrations. Beef nourishes
bodies and minds and optimizes health at every stage of life. As more Americans
are overweight, it is important to make every calorie count. Calorie for
calorie, no other protein food delivers the same package of 10 essential
nutrients. Today’s beef is leaner than ever before and Americans’ consumption
of calories and fat from beef have declined.  

“As a registered dietitian, nutrition scientist and advocate for
healthy eating, it’s important for people who include beef as a source of
nourishment and satisfaction in a healthy diet to know that the best science
available today continues to reinforce this is a smart approach for a healthy
lifestyle,” McNeill said. 

Jointly updated every five years by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),
the DGAs serve as the cornerstone of federal nutrition policy. During this
process, a group of experts in the fields of nutrition and health are appointed
to the DGAC. These individuals are tasked with reviewing the latest nutrition
research to make science-based recommendations to HHS and USDA on the food and
beverages that promote a healthy, balanced diet.  

Providing oral comment is an important part of the DGA process.
On behalf of beef farmers and ranchers, NCBA, a contractor to the to the Beef
Checkoff, an industry research and promotion program that utilized scientific
evidence as the basis for its information, urges the DGAC to systematically
review the totality of scientific evidence, using best practices that are
thorough, transparent and relevant when making decisions that will ultimately
result in nutritional policies that can measurably improve the health of
Americans.   

Learn more about
beef’s nutrient-rich profile and find ways to incorporate the mouthwatering,
high-quality protein into your healthy lifestyle at Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner.