The U.S. Departments of Health and Agriculture released the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans on Thursday, creating beef among health-conscious Americans.
Ali Al-Rajhi, a postdoctoral associate at UF’s Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, said the plan failed to mention the drawbacks of processed meat.
“I am a strong believer of consuming a moderate amount of locally sourced, grass-fed, organic meats due to the number of health benefits,” he said.
The guidelines are updated every five years to reflect current evidence on nutrition and disease prevention, according to a Department of Health and Human Services press release.
Al-Rajhi added it’s sometimes difficult for average Americans to access healthy food options.
“Challenges I have seen when working with college students and during my personal college experience is finding the ability to plan out healthy meals, budget for healthy foods and avoiding late night cravings for pizza or fast food,” he said.
Steven Che, a UF food science and human nutrition senior, said the guidelines list all meats and animal products under the umbrella of protein. However, they fail to address the specific risks of eating large amounts of red and processed meats.
“I heard that there were politics involving the meat industry,” the 21-year-old said. “Regardless, the message is not being said, and that is a problem.”
