By Jamie Martin
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is advocating for increased transparency and scientific rigor in the formulation of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This call comes ahead of the final public meeting of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC), where the IDFA has expressed concerns about the openness of the review process.
Roberta Wagner, senior vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs at IDFA, emphasized the importance of credibility in the guidelines, stating, "The credibility of the Dietary Guidelines depends on the public’s ability to trust that the recommendations are grounded in the best available science."
The IDFA has highlighted several areas needing improvement, including the public availability of studies considered by the DGAC, timely access to meeting materials, and concurrent release of scientific conclusions with supporting studies. These steps, according to IDFA, are crucial to ensure that stakeholders can adequately review and comment on the scientific data that informs the guidelines.
Additionally, the IDFA has critiqued the DGAC's handling of specific studies, especially those concerning saturated fats and cardiovascular disease, which could impact recommendations on full-fat dairy products.
The association is pushing for a process that not only promotes transparency but also facilitates a more collaborative review that could lead to more informed and effective dietary guidelines.
As the process moves forward, the IDFA remains committed to a constructive dialogue to ensure that the new guidelines reflect robust scientific evidence, supporting healthful and evidence-based diets that include nutritious dairy products.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-vm
Categories: National