Thursday, January 20, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 5
Confronting ethnic struggles
Bobbie-Frances McDonald, Lawrence resident, reflects on her trip to southern Sudan last July. She spoke about the country's ethnic struggles to more than 30 students and residents yesterday at Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave. Photo by Selena Jabare/KANSAN
Dietary guidelines face revision
Proposals: avoid fats moderate alcohol OK
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Nutrition experts revising the government's dietary guidelines want to tell Americans to limit sugary drinks and sweets and cut down on foods rich in saturated fats such as meat and dairy products.
The guidelines also would specify for the first time who might benefit from moderate consumption of alcoholic drinks — primarily middle-aged men and women — according to a draft of the new standards obtained by The Associated Press this week.
The revised standards also will put more emphasis on eating whole grains, fruits and vegetables and will include a section on food safety.
"These guidelines will be better than they have ever been," said
Margo Wootan, a senior scientist with the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
Federally funded nutrition programs, including school lunches and Meals on Wheels, are required to adhere to the recommendations. The recommendations also are widely used by professionals and dietitians in advising consumers.
"Usually when they come up for review, it seems like an opportunity for the food industry to weaken them," Wootan said. "This time I think the dietary guidelines will actually ... provide consumers advice that's a little stronger and more straightforward."
The 11-member advisory committee that's writing the new guidelines is including a subtle change in wording meant to make the standards more palatable to consumers. The current guidelines recommend that people follow a diet that is low in total fat. The new recommendation is for a diet that is moderate in total fat, but low in
saturated fat and cholesterol.
The recommended maximum fat intake won't change — it will remain 30 percent of total calories, or 65 grams a day in a 2,000 calorie diet.
But research by the food industry indicates consumers are put off by the term low-fat and see a moderate-fat diet as easier to follow, even if the fat content is the same.
"The goal is not to get people to eat no fat," said Susan Borra, a dietitian with the International Food Information Council. "The goal is to get people to manage their fat, to control their fat."
As for alcohol intake, the existing guideline says moderate drinking is associated with a lower risk for coronary heart disease in some individuals. The draft guideline specifies who those individuals are — men older than 45 and women older than 55 — and says there is little health benefit for younger people. Moderate drinking is defined as one drink a day for women and no more than two daily for men.
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