This bill increases the requirements for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The DGA are federally developed recommendations by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Under the bill, USDA and HHS must jointly publish guidelines at least once every 10 years (currently 5 years), and the final DGA is subject to rulemaking requirements.
The DGA must be based on significant scientific agreement that is determined by evidence-based review. Current law requires that the guidelines be based on a preponderance of current scientific and medical knowledge.
Further, the guidelines must address issues such as (1) high-priority areas to advance health outcomes, (2) achieving nutritional adequacy and promoting health, and (3) common nutrition-related chronic diseases.
In updating the guidelines, USDA and HHS must establish an Independent Advisory Board that must submit a list of scientific questions to be used as the basis for the proposed DGA. Members of the board must (1) have expertise in nutrition science or food science, and (2) disclose all relevant financial and nonfinancial conflicts of interest.
The bill prohibits the DGA from being based on or including topics that are not relevant to dietary guidance (e.g., taxation, social welfare policies, food and agricultural production practices, and race).
The bill provides specified funds through FY2029 to carry out these requirements.
Finally, the bill specifies that the 2020 DGA are the controlling guidelines until new guidelines are published in accordance with these requirements.