Ten grain industry groups partnered to submit recommendations to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The committee met six times to discuss the content of the 2010 guidelines, which are an update to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services revisit and revamp the guidelines every five years.

The ten groups that submitted the list are: the American Bakers Association, the American Institute of Baking, the Grain Foods Foundation, the Grains for Health Foundation, the Independent Bakers Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, the National Pasta Association, the North American Millers’ Association, the USA Rice Federation and the Wheat Foods Council.

The groups recommended:
• The Committee should not support the Nutrient Adequacy Sub-committee’s recommendation of replacing two servings of grains (one whole and one enriched) with two servings of starchy vegetables.
• The Committee should use the term “enriched” grains when referencing grains that are not defined as whole grains.
•The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s sodium recommendation should consider and support a voluntary, gradual and incremental approach to the reduction of sodium in foods that is mindful of functional properties and consumer preferences.
• Continue use of the current guideline: “Consume half your grains from whole.”

The final meeting of the advisory committee took place May 12. The Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services are scheduled to release the committee’s report in June for public comment, and will write and publish the guidelines by the end of the year.