Submit Comments on Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Every five years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services must revise its dietary guidelines. These get more controversial each time as more and more special interest groups chime in demanding that the government protect or promote their interests and more and more special interest groups put in their two cents demanding that the government stay out of their business. Somewhere in between are you, who are probably represented by one or more of those groups who you know it - or like it - or not.

But you get a say in the whole process. You can submit comments just like any well-funded outfit with a squadron of lobbyists.

Written comments can be submitted at www.dietaryguidelines.gov or mailed to Carole Davis, Co-Executive Secretary, Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Room 1034, Alexandria, VA 22302.

To provide oral testimony at the July 8 public meeting, you must register by going to www.dietaryguidelines.gov or by calling Crystal Tyler at (202) 314-4701 prior to 5 p.m. EDT on June 30. The meeting will be held in the Jefferson Auditorium in the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., on July 8 beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending not later than 5:00 p.m.

Just so you know exactly what you're commenting on, the entire report is available online as a series of pdf's. Go to this page for the report, plus appendices and special supplemental information.