USDA releases the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s final report

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) has posted the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s final scientific report, an objective review of the latest available science on specific nutrition topics. The report’s evidence-based findings will inform USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as they co-develop the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which will provide recommendations on what to eat and drink to promote health and prevent chronic disease.

The committee’s work was informed by more than 62,000 public comments. For comparison, prior committees received an average of about 450 comments.

Moving into the next stage of development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the USDA and HHS will leverage the scientific advice in the committee’s report, as well as comments from the public and other federal agencies, to develop the upcoming edition of the dietary guidelines. The departments plan to publish the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans by the end of December 2020.

“Science-based dietary guidance is critical to ensuring a healthy future for America,” said Brandon Lipps, food, nutrition, and consumer services deputy under secretary the USDA, in a press release. “USDA greatly appreciates the high-quality work done by this committee comprised of our nation’s leading scientists and dietary experts. We look forward to thoroughly reviewing the report and leveraging their scientific advice as we partner with HHS to develop the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.”

The USDA and HHS are accepting written public comments on the committee’s final report through Aug. 13, 2020. The public will also have an opportunity to provide oral comments on the scientific report to the departments at a public meeting on Aug. 11, 2020.