WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) are questioning the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s recent recommendations that propose replacing high-quality proteins like beef with beans, peas and lentils.6

“The preview meeting of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee this week (Oct. 22) stands out as one of the most out-of-touch, impractical, and elitist conversations in the history of this process,” said Ethan Lane, NCBA vice president of government affairs. “After 22 months of public discussion and lip service to transparency, we are disappointed by the number of chaotic new directions that were proposed at the literal last minute.”

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee is tasked with delivering recommendations to the USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as the agencies craft the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Shalene McNeill, NCBA executive director of nutrition science and registered dietitian, said, “We’ve had more than four decades of Dietary Guidelines advice, and during that time, red meat consumption has declined, yet obesity and chronic disease is on the rise. Seventy percent of the calories in the U.S. diet are plant based. Now, the committee wants to reduce red meat intake even further, marginalizing the 80 percent of the population who identify themselves as meat eaters.

“These recommendations put some of the most vulnerable at risk for nutrient gaps, especially older Americans, adolescent girls, and women of child-bearing age,” she added. “Beef contributes only 5 percent of the calories in the American diet, but more than 5 percent of essential nutrients like potassium, phosphorous, iron, B6, niacin, protein, zinc, choline, and B12.”

She said, “It’s baffling that we are trying to get Americans to cut out red meat when the evidence indicates nutrient deficiencies and chronic disease are increasing as red meat consumption declines. As a registered dietitian and nutrition scientist, I am concerned that basing guidelines on highly academic exercises, hypothetical modeling, and weak science on red meat will not produce relevant or practical guidelines and will not help us achieve healthier diets.”

In early October, the NPPC submitted comments to the committee, raising scientific concerns around replacing animal protein with plant protein.

Bryan Humphreys, NPPC CEO, said the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has the opportunity to benefit public health by following sound science.

“While pork producers support the committee’s recommendation to increase protein intake, their recommendation to replace animal proteins will severely compromise the American diet, as plant proteins are not nearly as nutritionally rich,” he said.

“The committee recommends moving beans, peas, and lentils from the vegetable group to the protein group,” he added. “While this increases the amount of recommended protein intake, this would be deceiving to Americans, as there are essential nutrients in animal protein that plant proteins do not provide.”

Lee Brooke, Iowa Soybean Association District 7 director, farms near Clarinda with his son and son-in-law, raising soybeans, corn, hay, as well as a cow-calf operation, a cattle feedlot, and contract finish hogs.

When asked what he thought of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s recommendations, he offered a different take, telling Farm World, “Soy has a place in our diets as a source of protein, but is not a replacement for beef protein and its other nutritional benefits.

“My advice to the committee is to take in consideration soy protein is not a complete protein but important, whereas beef is a complete protein and sustainable source utilizing grassland,” he said. “I would encourage more focus overall on all proteins in moderation.”

The committee will finalize and submit its scientific report to HHS and the USDA, allowing for another opportunity for the public to weigh in prior to releasing the guidelines.