IDFA joined with 14 other food industry associations this week to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend the comment period on the final report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which was issued last week. In a joint letter, the groups propose extending the comment period by 28 days, creating a new deadline of August 12.
"The current deadline of July 15, 2010, does not provide sufficient time to carefully review and comment on the DGAC's report in a meaningful way, given its length and scope," the letter states. "Because the Guidelines have such as influential impact on public health, we feel strongly that all stakeholders should be given ample opportunity to review the report and provide input."
USDA also has scheduled a public meeting on July 8 in Washington, D.C., to encourage interested parties to present oral comments. IDFA will attend the meeting and submit comments on the report, which numbers more than 1,000 pages.
In addition to IDFA, the associations requesting an extension are:
- American Bakers Association
- American Beverage Association
- American Frozen Food institute
- American Meat institute
- Association for Dressings and Sauces
- Corn Refiners Association
- Grain Foods Foundation
- Grocery Manufacturers Association
- Juice Products Association
- National Confectioners Association
- Snack Food Association
- The Sugar Association
- The Vinegar Institute
- Wheat Foods Council
Read the letter here.
For background, read "Committee Report Confirms Daily Need for 3 Dairy Servings," 6/18/10.
For more information, contact Ruth Saunders, IDFA vice president of policy and legislative affairs, at rsaunders@idfa.org.