The newest dietary guidelines from the United States federal government have been released and there are some surprising omissions. While the guidelines continue to emphasize the value of a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, they do not recommend that American men substantially reduce alcohol consumption – contrary to advice provided by outside experts commissioned by the government earlier this year.
The US Dietary Guidelines for Americans are updated every five years and aim to reflect the current scientific consensus on nutrition. While they are obviously only recommendations, they shape federal nutrition-oriented policies and programs, such as school feeding programs, and also influence the food industry and restaurants in general.
As part of the update process, the government brings together a panel of external consultants to review the latest nutrition research and suggest any changes, if necessary. In July, his draft report was released. Among other things, the panel called for a clear change in the amount of alcohol that men should drink. They asked the guidelines to recommend that men drink no more than one alcoholic drink a day on the days they drank, below the previous limit of 2 drinks a day. Women, as before, should also have a drink a day. Now, this does not mean that it is okay to have a drink every day, just that you should limit yourself to one drink on the days you drink (which, fortunately, is not every day).
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This change was made to recognize growing research that shows that even light alcohol use is not as safe as widely believed and to encourage Americans to reduce alcohol consumption if possible, the report’s authors said at the time. Alcohol contributes to fatal car accidents, increases the risk of cancer, liver and heart disease and can affect cognition.
The final version of the guidelines, released On Tuesday, include other changes suggested by the panel, such as publicizing the nutritional benefits of breastfeeding and recommending pregnant women to eat seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids and low in mercury. They also contain language stating that “the evidence supports limiting the intake of added sugars and alcoholic beverages to promote health and prevent disease”. But they explicitly do not endorse the recommended changes to reduce alcohol consumption, as well as added sugars, arguing that the “revised evidence since the 2015-2020 edition does not substantiate quantitative changes at this time”.
The dietary guidelines are the result of a collaborative effort between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Human Services and Health. Throughout the Trump administration, which is now ending, both federal agencies have been accused by scientists and external lawmakers to erode science-based policies as silencing and punishing officers who disagreed with the White House. At least some nutrition experts are not very happy with the language now taken from dietary guidelines.
“Despite repeated claims that the guidelines are based on science, the Trump agencies ignored the recommendation of the scientific committee they appointed and instead returned to the recommendation of the previous guidelines,” Marion Nestlé, nutrition scientist and well-known author said The New York Times.
Just because the new guidelines don’t tell us to limit our drinking, however, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t cut it down a bit. After all, a large global study in 2018 concluded that there are no safe level of alcohol consumption. At least a quarter of American adults triggered in excessive alcohol consumption last year, while 14 million Americans have alcohol use disorder. Overall, it is estimated that alcohol kills about 95,000 Americans a year, making it the second most lethal drug after tobacco.