FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MAY 8, 2015
CONTACT: Laramie Adams
CELL: 512-922-7328
Fort Worth, Texas – The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association today submitted comments opposing the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s (DGAC) report, which encourages Americans to consume less beef. The report provides recommendations for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretaries, as they develop their plan for revised dietary guidelines.
“The DGAC’s report recommending Americans consume less beef is appalling and severely misguided,” said TSCRA President Pete Bonds. “There is an overwhelming amount of scientific evidence that shows meat plays an important role in a healthy diet. Unfortunately, the advisory committee continues to ignore these findings.
“The federal government’s record of attacking our industry and spreading false information about beef seems to be a trend from Washington bureaucrats who are pushing their anti-meat agenda. This report, which suggests that plant-based products are more sustainable than animal-based food sources, is the most recent example of this.
“As a lifetime cattleman, I am very proud of the fact that I work along with millions of other ranchers to produce the most nutritious and affordable beef in the world. Anyone who says beef doesn’t provide tremendous health benefits is falsifying information.
“TSCRA encourages the USDA and HHS Secretaries to swiftly reject the DGAC’s report. Rather than telling Americans to eat less meat, the final 2015 Dietary Guidelines should encourage Americans to practice moderation and eat more lean red meat paired with more vegetables, fruits and whole grains,” Bonds concluded.”
To read TSCRA’s comments regarding the 2015 dietary guidelines visit www.tscra.org/handouts/TSCRA-DG-Comments.pdf.
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TSCRA is a 138-year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has a membership of more than 16,500 beef cattle operations, ranching families and businesses. These members represent over 50,000 individuals directly involved in ranching and beef production that manage over four million head of cattle on more than 76 million acres of range and pasture land primarily in Texas and Oklahoma, but throughout the Southwest.