The Biden-Harris administration is set to release new dietary guidelines promoting plant-based proteins over traditional meats, but the official announcement is expected only after the election. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, appointed by the administration, plans to prioritize beans, lentils, and peas over red meat and poultry, a shift that has raised questions about the administration’s timing and intentions.
The committee met recently at the National Institutes of Health, where they discussed re-categorizing plant-based foods like beans and lentils as primary protein sources. This would demote traditional sources such as beef and chicken. Harvard nutritionist Deirdre Tobias and other committee members suggested that Americans have a “branding crisis” around protein, which they believe can be solved by promoting plant options.
Biden-Harris diet panel to elevate plant proteins over meat in snub to farm voters https://t.co/5XNuF5kHjh
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) October 31, 2024
Critics, however, argue that the delay in making this announcement until after the election is strategic. They say the administration is aware of the potential backlash from Americans who view meat as an important part of their diet and that releasing these guidelines could hurt them at the polls. Shalene McNeill from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association argued that beef is essential for meeting dietary needs and that plant-based alternatives cannot fully substitute the nutrients found in red meat.
The National Pork Producers Council has also voiced opposition, with CEO Bryan Humphreys cautioning that plant proteins lack the nutrient density of meat, which could lead to nutritional deficits if Americans reduce their intake of animal proteins. He warned that this shift could harm the health of many Americans, particularly those who rely on meat as a primary protein source.
Though these guidelines are advisory, they play a significant role in shaping school meal programs, federal dietary recommendations, and even health guidance from doctors. This potential shift in dietary advice aligns with the administration’s broader environmental goals, as activists push for reductions in meat consumption to lower carbon emissions.
With the election so close, the timing has led many to speculate that the administration is postponing the announcement to avoid alienating voters who may see these dietary changes as out of touch with traditional American eating habits.
