Politics Versus Science: Opposing the Food Pyramid (1991-1992)

1. Politics Versus Science: Opposing the Food Pyramid(1991-1992) By Marion Nestle Laura Korth

2. Eating Right Pyramid • Created in 1991 • Hierarchical: most daily servings from grain, vegetable, and fruit and less from meat and dairy • Secretary of USDA Edward R. Madigan blocked printing because it was “confusing to children” • Pressure from meat industry • Meat and dairy industries complained that their products were being stigmatized

3. Food Guide Pyramid • USDA spent almost a million dollars on research and released a new pyramid • Minor changes: name, placement of serving sizes, and size meat serving went from 4-6oz to 5-7oz • Meat and dairy industries were appeased

4. Two Major Issues • USDA’s conflict of interest: • protecting agriculture • Advise public about diet and health • Undue Influence of lobbyists in this area and other areas in federal policy decisions

5. USDA’s Conflict:Background • Mid 1970s: Congress under pressure to support health promotion to reduce health care costs • USDA and Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (DHEW) competed to control nutrition education and research • 1977 Farm Bill (PL 95-113): Congress granted shared responsibility to USDA and DHEW • 1988: House Appropriations Committee forced the two to issue consistent dietary advice favorable to agriculture • To prevent Dept. of Heath and Human Services (DHHS) issuing advice adverse to agriculture • DHHS argued that their agencies should be in charge, but Congress still favored the USDA • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) • Centers for Disease Control (CDC) • National Institutes of Health (NIH) • Led to conflict of interest because dietary advice increasingly meant eating less, which was unfavorable towards agriculture

6. Origins of the Pyramid • 1980 Dietary Guidelines • referred to nutrients, not to foods that contain them • Hard to understand by public • USDA’s Human Nutrition Information Service (HNIS) wanted a new guide to establish a research basis to conduct study to determine optimal servings

7. Origins of the Pyramid: HNIS • Established nutritional goals, defined food groups, assigned serving sizes and proportions • 1984: used this information in the Food Wheel for the American Red Cross • 6-11 grains, 2-4 fruits, 3-5 vegetables, 2-3 each meat and dairy, moderation of sweets, fats, and alcohol • Difficult to interpret and cluttered • Used for years in many publications • 1988: Contracted with Washington office, Porter-Novelli, to create a new design easier to understand • Equilateral triangle with horizontal rows

8. Origins of the Pyramid • 1990 Dietary Guidelines incorporated the Pyramid’s serving numbers, granting them status as official components of federal nutrition policy • Sent to many publishers and presented at meetings—it was no secret • Fully cleared for publication at every political level within USDA • HNIS expected Pyramid to be published April, 1991

9. Toppling the Pyramid: A Bad Luck Streak • April 10th: Front page news in New York Times: The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) asked USDA to make the new food groups vegetarian—fruits, grains, vegetables, and legumes—and meat and dairy to be minor options • Protests followed and some argued a “potentially dangerous” diet is disguised as animal-rights agenda • April 13th: Washington Post article praising the Pyramid and saying it is a “real mark of progress” • No longer gives impression meat and dairy are most important • Pyramid better for health and wellbeing • April 15th: During Cattleman’s meeting with Secretary Madigan, they complained: • Pyramid would cause people to eat less meat • Meat should not be displayed so close to sugars and fats

10. Toppling the Pyramid • April 27th: USDA spokeswoman confirmed the Pyramid had been “killed” • Denied that industry complaints were reason, it was because it was too confusing for children

11. Defending the Pyramid • Press educated the public • Many organizations sent protest letters to USDA, demanded responsibility transferred from USDA to DHHS, and demanded USDA’s records on Pyramid • National press wrote stories about USDA’s favoritism towards corporate interests • US Today challenged children to draw symbols for a healthful diet • Well-publicized controversy hit USDA hard • Exclude HNIS staff from Pyramid work • Secretary Madigan: • Pyramid was premature and not tested • Pyramid was not cancelled due to pressure from meat and dairy industries • Conflicting stories from staff: it was well-tested and cleared • These misunderstandings reinforced skepticism

12. Renegotiating the Research • USDA now had to conduct the “missing” research • Bell Associates hired to test Pyramid against other graphics • Used pyramids, bowls, pie charts, and shopping carts • Narrowed down to bowls and pyramids • No significant difference between effectiveness • Analyze data again with a scoring system

13. Releasing the “New” Pyramid • April 1992: A year after withdrawal, USDA’s Food Guide Pyramid was released • Serving size of meat was increased • Secretary Madigan: Pyramid would no longer mislead people into thinking some foods are more important or better for you than others • DHHS might have influenced decision because of contribution to costs of research • August 1992: New version of Pyramid released without USDA’s name because of conflict

14. Survival of the Pyramid: Implications • Substantiated by research, reviewed by experts, understood by consumers, and approved by USDA • Pyramid design made it clear that food groups are hierarchical • Press highlighted conflicts of interest in USDA and criticized lobbyists role in influencing federal policy • Delays and press brought enormous publicity • Pyramid is widely used and best-recognized nutrition education device ever created in U.S. • Pyramid serving sizes became standard • Effectiveness is questionable because ice cream and cheese consumption increased

15. As of June, 2011: USDA has replaced the Pyramid with a plate