PMA praises new U.S. Dietary Guidelines’: ‘Make fruits and vegetables half your plate’

PMA praises new U.S. Dietary Guidelines’: ‘Make fruits and vegetables half your plate’


NEWARK, Del.—With the January 31 release of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) applauds the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their emphasis on fruit and vegetable consumption throughout the guidelines.

Notably, the new guidelines call for consumers to make half their plates fruits and vegetables, a “powerful and actionable image for us all,” said Kathy Means, PMA’s vice president of government relations and public affairs.

In addition to that advice, the agencies offer additional consumer-friendly advice and tools to help consumers translate the Dietary Guidelines into their everyday lives:
• Enjoy your food, but eat less.
• Avoid oversized portions.
• Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
• Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals – and choose the foods with lower numbers.
• Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

“There’s never been a time when fruits and vegetables have been this far forward in health, science and regulatory messaging,” Means said “We are especially pleased that the new guidelines call for consumers to make half their plates fruits and vegetables – a crystal clear concept for consumers. Produce has been front and center in First Lady Michelle Obama’s ‘Let’s Move’ program and the war against obesity, as well as in the recently signed Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The farm bill also shines favorably on fruits and vegetables. The new dietary guidelines are one more message outlet that may speak to some individuals in a way none of the other efforts will.”

The guidelines are important because they form the basis for federal health and feeding programs, the best dietary advice for consumers, and the foundation for many other organizations’ dietary guidance. “This guidance, combined with other PMA and member activities put us on the brink of significant growth in produce consumption and sales,” Means said.
In the making of the new dietary guidelines, PMA’s Government Relations team offered comments and testified before the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee calling for a stronger, more vigorous effort for increased produce consumption through communication, social science, and policy changes.

Part of team’s advisement stated: “Increased consumption of fresh produce is a key factor in three of the four steps the committee recommends: reducing calorie intake; shifting to a more plant-based diet that emphasizes fruits and vegetables as well as other healthful foods; and reducing consumption of foods with added sugars and solid fats as well as intake of sodium, refined grains and other less-healthful food.”
The announcement of the new guidelines coincides with the release of PMA’s latest research showing that the consumer cost of fresh produce is more affordable than some have suggested. PMA commissioned The Perishables Group to evaluate the cost of achieving the recommended daily intake of 4.5 cups of fruits and vegetables (9 servings a day) and uncovered what a healthy value fresh produce is—year-round. For example, it only costs consumers an average of $2.18 to get nine daily servings of fruits and vegetables at $0.28 for a half-cup serving of fruit and $0.21 for a half-cup serving of vegetables (1 cup of leafy greens). PMA members can view a copy of the 27-page research report Study of Purchase Price of Recommended Fruit and Vegetable Servings.
To stay current with PMA’s government relations and public affairs endeavors on issues like the Dietary Guidelines, visit the Field to Fork blog where anyone can join the conversation about important issues like this.

USApple Applauds USDA/HHS for Issuing Ground-Breaking Guidelines New Dietary Guidelines encourage more Fruits, Vegetables and Physical Activity

USApple Applauds USDA/HHS for Issuing Ground-Breaking Guidelines
New Dietary Guidelines encourage more Fruits, Vegetables and Physical Activity

Vienna, VA – The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans were released yesterday and recommend Americans fill half of their plate with fruits and vegetables. The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) applauds their effort to help Americans eat better by providing key recommendations for a healthy diet.

“The U.S. apple industry is ready and able to help Americans get on the path to health and wellness by providing them with healthy, nutritious, and delicious apples and apple products. We are encouraged by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines and support any national effort that seeks to improve Americans’ diets—especially those that increase fruit and vegetable consumption,” states Allison Parker, MS, RD, Director, Consumer Health and Education for USApple.

The USApple submitted written comments back in July, 2010 in response to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s (DGAC) Report that helped in the development of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Those comments were heard and many of the things USApple encouraged the USDA and HHS to consider when planning and executing the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, were expressed in the Report, including:
• Using the “half-plate” concept to encourage greater fruit and vegetable consumption;
• Translating the report into actionable, easy to understand, compelling and strong messages that encourage Americans to change their dietary habits, evident by these selected messages for consumers ;
• Adding information about eating behaviors and how the broader environment must support healthy eating in order for consumers to be successful; and
• Focusing on children to help improve the health of our younger generation and generations to come.

This is the first time the guidelines will set out to specifically tackle the issue of obesity, considered to be the greatest threat to public health in this century, and there is a major focus on America’s youth throughout the Report. The Dietary Guidelines are issued and updated every 5 years by the USDA and HHS. They provide authoritative advice about how good dietary habits can promote health and reduce risk for major chronic diseases. They are also the basis for many Federal nutrition policy and nutrition education activities. To view the press release, jointly issued by the USDA and HHS, click here.

For more information about the U.S. Apple Association, please visit www.usapple.org.

Statement by Pamela G. Bailey, president and CEO, Grocery Manufacturers Association in Response to Today’s Release of the Federal Government’s New Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Statement by Pamela G. Bailey, president and CEO, Grocery Manufacturers Association in Response to Today’s Release of the Federal Government’s New Dietary Guidelines for Americans

(Washington, D.C.) “America’s food and beverage companies have a strong track record when it comes to providing consumers with the innovative products, tools and information they need to construct a healthy diet. Our industry strongly supports First Lady Michelle Obama’s goal of solving childhood obesity within a generation and her Let’s Move anti-childhood obesity initiative, and our companies are doing our part to promote a healthy lifestyle in the marketplace, in schools and in the workplace.

“Since 2002, GMA member companies have introduced more than 20,000 products with fewer calories and reduced fat, sugar and sodium. Through the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, food and beverage companies have pledged to remove 1.5 trillion calories from the food supply by 2015. And by applying nutrition criteria to our advertising policies, two thirds of the products advertised during children’s programming now feature healthier products and/or healthy lifestyle messages.

“As another example of our industry’s commitment to promoting a healthy diet, the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Food Marketing Institute last week launched Nutrition Keys, a front-of-pack nutrition labeling initiative that will help consumers make informed decisions when they shop. Combined with the many innovative nutrition information programs implemented in recent years, consumers now have access to more nutrition information about their food than ever before – on products, in stores and on-line.

“The federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans serve as the foundation of our nation’s dietary advice and are an invaluable tool for informing consumers about proper diet and nutrition.

“We welcome today’s release of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and applaud its focus on calorie balance for weight management and nutrient dense eating patterns as important concepts in helping Americans build a healthy lifestyle.

“GMA supports the federal government’s recommendation of no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium daily for the general population, and recognizes that certain sensitive segments of the population should consume even less sodium on a daily basis.

“The food industry is committed to continuing to reduce the sodium content in thousands of products to help consumers achieve these sodium intake reductions. For years, food companies have been introducing a wide variety of new products into the marketplace containing no sodium or low sodium, or with no added salt. During that time, food companies have also been very successful at making incremental reductions in sodium levels in food products that maintain consumer taste preferences.

“Food companies take health and wellness very seriously and will continue to take great strides to provide consumers with food choices and information that will help them build diets aligned with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and reduce obesity.”





Statement by Pamela G. Bailey, president and CEO, Grocery Manufacturers Association in Response to Today’s Release of the Federal Government’s New Dietary Guidelines for Americans

(Washington, D.C.) “America’s food and beverage companies have a strong track record when it comes to providing consumers with the innovative products, tools and information they need to construct a healthy diet. Our industry strongly supports First Lady Michelle Obama’s goal of solving childhood obesity within a generation and her Let’s Move anti-childhood obesity initiative, and our companies are doing our part to promote a healthy lifestyle in the marketplace, in schools and in the workplace.

“Since 2002, GMA member companies have introduced more than 20,000 products with fewer calories and reduced fat, sugar and sodium. Through the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, food and beverage companies have pledged to remove 1.5 trillion calories from the food supply by 2015. And by applying nutrition criteria to our advertising policies, two thirds of the products advertised during children’s programming now feature healthier products and/or healthy lifestyle messages.

“As another example of our industry’s commitment to promoting a healthy diet, the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Food Marketing Institute last week launched Nutrition Keys, a front-of-pack nutrition labeling initiative that will help consumers make informed decisions when they shop. Combined with the many innovative nutrition information programs implemented in recent years, consumers now have access to more nutrition information about their food than ever before – on products, in stores and on-line.

“The federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans serve as the foundation of our nation’s dietary advice and are an invaluable tool for informing consumers about proper diet and nutrition.

“We welcome today’s release of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and applaud its focus on calorie balance for weight management and nutrient dense eating patterns as important concepts in helping Americans build a healthy lifestyle.

“GMA supports the federal government’s recommendation of no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium daily for the general population, and recognizes that certain sensitive segments of the population should consume even less sodium on a daily basis.

“The food industry is committed to continuing to reduce the sodium content in thousands of products to help consumers achieve these sodium intake reductions. For years, food companies have been introducing a wide variety of new products into the marketplace containing no sodium or low sodium, or with no added salt. During that time, food companies have also been very successful at making incremental reductions in sodium levels in food products that maintain consumer taste preferences.

“Food companies take health and wellness very seriously and will continue to take great strides to provide consumers with food choices and information that will help them build diets aligned with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and reduce obesity.”

National Restaurant Association Statement on New 2010 Dietary Guidelines

(Washington, D.C.) The National Restaurant Association issued the following statement today, in response to the release of the government’s new 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans:

“We support the Dietary Guidelines’ recommendations around a total dietary meal pattern which focuses on increasing consumption of whole grains, fruits and vegetables,” said Joan McGlockton, Vice President for Industry Affairs and Food Policy at the National Restaurant Association. “There has been a growing trend of restaurants offering more whole grains and produce, and we look forward to continuing to work with restaurant operators and chefs to provide even more healthful menu options for adults and children.”

Among the top five trends highlighted in the National Restaurant Association’s recently released “What’s Hot” chef survey were nutritionally balanced children’s dishes and an increased focus on produce. The Association is also working with the Produce Marketing Association and the International Foodservice Distributors Association on an initiative to double the use of produce in the foodservice sector over the next ten years.

“We commend the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Report for also placing a focus on calorie (energy) balance,” said Joy Dubost, Ph.D. R.D., Director of Nutrition and Healthy Living for the National Restaurant Association. “The National Restaurant Association has supported initiatives which focus on reducing childhood obesity. This includes working closely with the Administration on First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative to improve childhood health and nutrition.”

In addition to supporting “Let’s Move,” the Association is a partner in the “Chefs Move to Schools” initiative that works to pair chefs with schools to help develop menus that include healthier options, and better educate students and parents about nutrition. The Association also helped craft a commitment in 2010 among some of the largest school lunch contractors/companies to include more fruit juice, vegetables, whole grain and milk options in school lunches and double the amount of produce on school menus in the coming years.

“The National Restaurant Association played a significant role in helping to pass legislation last year that will soon provide consumers with nutrition information – and calories on the menu - in more than 200,000 restaurants nationwide,” said Dubost. “This information will provide even more opportunities for consumers to easily access information about the food they consume from restaurants.
“In addition, we will continue to help consumers locate healthful menu options through our continued partnership with HealthyDiningFinder.com, a nationwide search engine which provides nutrition information to consumers across the country.”

The National Restaurant Association was a participating member of the Dietary Guidelines Alliance, which conducted consumer research. This research will help to provide positive and simple messages to enable American consumers to achieve healthy, active lifestyles, consistent with The 2010 Dietary Guidelines.

An updated Dietary Guidelines report is published every five years

CSPI Welcomes New Dietary Guidelines for Americans

CSPI Welcomes New Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan
For 30 years, the Dietary Guidelines has offered basically the same, sensible advice: eat fewer calories; less saturated fat, sodium, and sugar; and more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Only about 10 percent of Americans have followed that advice. The new Dietary Guidelines acknowledges that most people find healthy eating like swimming upstream, given the aggressive marketing and ubiquity of foods laden with calories, saturated fat, salt, white flour, and added sugars.
This time around, the messages are clearer than in the past. Rather than simply saying “increase fruits and vegetables,” the new Guidelines recommends that people fill half their plate with fruits and vegetables. Rather than just giving the vague advice to lower sugar intake, it now recommends drinking water in place of soda and other sugary drinks, which are by far the largest source of sugar in Americans’ diets. Importantly, the Guidelines calls for “an immediate, deliberate reduction in the sodium content of foods” and for “effective policies to limit food and beverage marketing to children.”
Another major difference is that Obama administration officials have done more than just publish a pamphlet, cross their fingers, and hope that Americans eat better. They’re enacting stronger policies and programs– like improving school foods, requiring menu labeling in chain restaurants, and funding communities to promote healthy eating and physical activity – and urging food companies to improve their products and practices. But without even more serious governmental efforts—such as banning artificial trans fat and limiting sodium in packaged foods—the Dietary Guidelines will not be sufficient to fend off the costly and debilitating diet-related illnesses that afflict millions of Americans.

NEW DIETARY GUIDELINES RECOMMEND FILLING HALF YOUR PLATE WITH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Guidelines Also Suggest Limiting Sodium, Added Sugar, Solid Fats
NEW DIETARY GUIDELINES RECOMMEND FILLING HALF YOUR PLATE WITH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES


Hockessin, Del. - Less sodium, added sugar, and solid fat, and fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables; the government's recommendations about what we should eat have been updated with a few key changes. Every five years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) examine the latest developments in nutritional science and release a new version of their Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This is done to keep them current with new developments in nutritional science. The guidelines serve as the basis for federal food and nutrition programs like the USDA school breakfast and lunch programs.

"By following the new guidelines and filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables at every meal or snack, you'll be eating more of what your body needs to be healthy and at your optimum weight," said Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., R.D., president and CEO of Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH), the nonprofit entity in partnership with CDC behind the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters® national public health initiative. "At Fruits & Veggies-More Matters, we've designed the America's More Matters Pledge: Fruits & Veggies . . . Today and Every Day! as a way to promise to eat more delicious, nutritious, fruits and vegetables for your better health."

"The pledge is a way to keep you focused on eating fruits and vegetables. You pledge to fill half your plate with fruits and veggies at each meal and snack, and the website will make following through on that pledge easy and enjoyable."
The website has a wide array of tips and advice for eating more fruits and vegetables while limiting sodium, added sugars, and solid fats, just the goals recommended by the new dietary guidelines. It features a Menu Plan of the Week that spells out a full day's eating plan including, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and either two or three snacks that total less than 2,000 calories and 1,500 mg of sodium. The website's Fruits & Veggies-More Matters Recipe of the Week is a fun way to try a new (healthy!) dish each week. The Recipe of the Week is chosen from a database of over 1,000 recipes, many of which can be made in 30 minutes or less. You can search through all these recipes on the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters website. The website also features a Video Center with videos about fruit and vegetables selection, storage, and preparation, along with tips for eating healthy on a budget.

Learn more about Fruits & Veggies-More Matters and the America's More Matters Pledge at www.FruitsAndVeggiesMoreMatters.org. For more information about the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, visit www.cnpp.usda.gov/dietaryguidelines.htm.

PBH is also a member and co-chair with Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) of the National Fruit & Vegetable Alliance (NFVA), consisting of government agencies, non-profit organizations, and industry working to collaboratively and synergistically achieve increased nationwide access and demand for all forms of fruits and vegetables for improved public health. To learn more, visit www.NFVA.org.

FFVA APPLAUDS NEW DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR THEIR EMPHASIS ON FRUITS, VEGETABLES

FFVA APPLAUDS NEW DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR THEIR EMPHASIS ON FRUITS, VEGETABLES

MAITLAND, Fla. (Jan. 31, 2011) – The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, whose members account for the majority of fresh fruit and vegetable production in the state, issued this statement about the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans:
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association is encouraged by new dietary guidelines released today by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services.
Eating more fruits and vegetables is a simple but important weapon in fighting the obesity epidemic in this country. Many chronic health problems that afflict Americans today stem from being overweight and not eating right: heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and other diseases. Prevention through proper nutrition is far less costly than treatment after the onset of illness.
The guidelines recommend making half of our plate vegetables and fruits -– an easy way to incorporate more healthy produce into our diets. Replacing unhealthy foods with more daily servings of vegetables and fruits is key in improving health. Parents and schools must establish a good dietary foundation for children by encouraging them to eat more vegetables and fruits, which will start them on a lifelong path of healthier eating.
Florida farmers supply much of the fresh vegetables and fruits that Americans enjoy. We lead the nation in production of oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes, sweet corn, snap beans, cucumbers, squash and watermelons. We’re second in production of strawberries, bell peppers and tangerines. Florida’s grower community is proud to play a role in offering Americans a bountiful supply of healthful, nutritious produce.
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (www.ffva.com) is an agricultural trade organization representing Florida's producers of fruits, vegetables and other crops.