Betsy Booren, Ph.D., NAMI vice president of scientific affairs, said 45 days is not enough time for interested stakeholders to review the 571-page report and the entire Nutrition Evidence Library.
“To provide a thorough and meaningful review and comment, which has been encouraged by the agencies, a 120-day comment period is appropriate,” Booren said. “The agencies have encouraged a transparent collaborative process, yet a limited time for review does not allow for such a process. Such a short comment period runs the risk of appearing to exclude meaningful comment,” she added. “The 120-day comment period will provide the most insightful response to the DGAC report, which will be useful as the agencies develop the final policy.”
Previously, NAMI responded to the report with strong concerns about the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee's (DGAC) recommendation for a diet low in red and processed meats. The Meat Institute also took issue with the committee's recommendation that Americans should consider sustainability when making decision about what to eat.
