Uncle Sam Wants You - to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
Change in Federal Dietary Guidelines Addresses Deficit in the American
Diet
Produce for Better Health Foundation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 26, 2000
CONTACT: Elizabeth Pivonka at 302-235-2329, ext. 15
5301 Limestone Road/Suite 101/Wilmington, DE 19808-1249
302-235-2329/Fax: 302-235-5555/www.5aday.com
WASHINGTON - Amidst changes to address the prominent issue of overweight
and obesity among Americans, one major change to the newly released 2000
U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans puts the spotlight on encouraging
the public to eat more of something for good health: a new guideline devoted
solely to fruits and vegetables.
The new guideline states, "Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables daily."
Although fruits and vegetables were mentioned in the last revision of
the Dietary Guidelines for Americans in 1995, fruits and vegetables are
given greater prominence by being given their own guideline in this 2000
edition. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans is the cornerstone
of federal nutrition policy in the United States and establishes the science-based
guidance on what Americans should eat to stay healthy.
Hundreds of scientific studies published since the Dietary Guidelines
were last revised indicate that high fruit and vegetable consumption helps
prevent cancer, heart disease, stroke, and plays a preventive role in
birth defects, cataract formation, hypertension, asthma, diverticulosis,
obesity and diabetes. A free copy of a report summarizing the role of
fruits and vegetables in preventing disease can be ordered by logging
onto www.5aday.com.
"Fruits and vegetables are the only exception to the state of over-consumption
in the United States - in fact, Americans are actually suffering from
a large deficit in this area," said Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., R.D., president
of the Produce for Better Health Foundation, which launched a national
campaign * in February 1999 - at the onset of the Dietary Guidelines revision
process - to advocate a greater prominence for fruits and vegetables in
the federal guidelines. "This new, separate guideline is a critical step
to jump start fruit and vegetable intake, which will improve the health
status of all Americans."
"We applaud the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services
for placing greater emphasis on plant-based foods in this edition of the
Dietary Guidelines, especially fruits and vegetables," said Dr. Margo
Wootan, nutrition scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
"The government needs to do more than just publish a pamphlet, cross its
fingers, and hope that Americans eat better. The federal government needs
to launch programs and implement policies that make the healthy choice
the easy choice."
To advocate for policies and programs that promote health eating and physical
activity, the Produce for Better Health Foundation, the Center for Science
in the Public Interest and several other consumer, health, and physical
activity organizations have joined in a new National Alliance for Nutrition
& Activity (NANA). NANA is working to create a healthier America through
healthy eating and physical activity, including greater funding for the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the 5 A Day Program
- the largest federal nutrition education program targeted to the general
public, which has a mere $1 million communications budget. CDC's entire
division of nutrition and physical activity has just $6.5 million dollars.
In contrast, CDC has $100 million for anti-tobacco programs, though unhealthy
eating and physical inactivity kill a similar number of people.
For information about the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, log on to
www.usda.gov/cnpp.
* Organizations that joined the "Fruits and Vegetables First" campaign
included AARP, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society,
the American Institute for Cancer Research, the Boys & Girls Clubs
of America and the American Diabetes Association, as well as hundreds
of state and local organizations and health professionals nationwide.
The
Produce for Better Health Foundation is the catalyst for creating a
healthier America through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Together with its founding partner, the National Cancer Institute,
and an expanding base of other health-oriented non-profits, government
agencies, and businesses, the non-profit Foundation sponsors the national
5 A Day for Better Health Program.
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