The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are the cornerstone of Federal nutrition policy and nutrition education activities. Since 1980, the Guidelines have been jointly issued and updated every 5 years by the Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS).


In 1983, the Secretaries of USDA and HHS established a Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee in accordance with a stipulation of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The 9-member Committee specializing in the field of human nutrition was appointed to serve for a two-year period on the 1985 Committee. The Committee was responsible for reviewing the scientific literature affecting dietary guidance for the public, reviewing public comments on the Dietary Guidelines consumer bulletin and making recommendations to the Secretaries of both Departments for updating the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 1980.


Publications

After 1½ years of review and 4 meetings, the Committee submitted their final report to USDA and HHS: Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 1985.

In 1985, the Secretaries of USDA and HHS released a 24-page booklet entitled, Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which became the 2nd edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.



 

Last Modified: November 20, 2009 10:46 AM