Americans may soon be urged to go vegan.
The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee pointed out that a plant-based diet has less environmental impact than one that relies heavily on meat consumption.
It is not clear that the final guidelines will take the health of the planet into account, however. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says that they will focus exclusively on diet and nutrition and not on sustainability.
Plant-Based Diets for Health
The committee says that such a diet is also better for health and is suggesting a diet that is rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seafood, with little or no red meat, sugar-sweetened beverages and foods or refined grains. Of course, seafood, dairy products and eggs are not part of a vegan diet, which also excludes honey or any other foods associated with animals.
Some Groups Object
Needless to say, such news is not welcome at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association or the North American Meat Institute. These industry groups are expected to lobby for more latitude in the final guidelines.
