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E. J. HENTGES, USDA-Center for Nutrition Policy & Promotion, 3101 Park Center Dr., Ste. 1034, Alexandria, VA 22302-1594 USDA has had historic responsibility for guiding consumer food choices for the last 100 years. The current food guidance system that includes the Food Guide Pyramid is being reassessed to ensure that the system reflects the latest nutritional science and to improve the educational tools that assist consumers in making healthier food choices. The philosophical goals of the food guidance system are to promote overall health, be based on up-to-date research, address the total diet, be evolutionary and be useful, realistic, flexible and practical. This presentation describes the reassessment process and results with an emphasis on the consumer research. The reassessment included a three-pronged approach: technical research, stakeholder input, and consumer research. The technical research included updating and incorporating the nutritional standards used in the food guidance system (Dietary Reference Intakes and the 2005 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans). The technical research also included incorporating both updated and new food consumption and food composition data. Stakeholder comments were requested through two Federal Register notices. Formative consumer research at various phases of food guidance system development assessed understanding of and appeal of potential messages, graphic images, and materials for the system. The results of the reassessment will be released early in 2005.
Session 38, 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans: What consumers and food product developers tell us
2005 IFT Annual Meeting, July 15-20 - New Orleans, Louisiana |