More than a dozen seafood-loving scientists are working to make the message contained in the US’ next update of its Dietary Guidelines for Americans even stronger when it comes to encouraging consumption by pregnant mothers and young children.
Their lengthy research paper, which cites some 40 studies that paint a very positive picture of seafood, is expected to be published within weeks in a peer-reviewed journal. Immediately after, the group plans to share its meta study with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, another 20 academics that make recommendations to the US departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services (USDA and HHS), about what should go into the document that has the most influence when it comes establishing nutrition policy in the country.
The hope: USDA and HHS altogether strike the current document’s mercury warnings and also the suggestion that seafood consumption be limited to 12 ounces per week from the language.
However, while the group can count on the rampant support of the seafood industry, it can also rely on considerable resistance from multiple consumer advocacy groups, including those at the heavyweight magazine publisher Consumer Reports, Jean Halloran, CR’s retiring director of food policy initiatives, assured Undercurrent News this week.
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