Nestle M
Department of Nutrition, Food and Hotel Management, New York University, NY 10003.
Int J Health Serv. 1993;23(3):483-96. doi: 10.2190/32F2-2PFB-MEG7-8HPU.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's 1991 withdrawal of its Eating Right Pyramid food guide in response to pressure from meat and dairy producers was only the latest in a long series of industry attempts to influence federal dietary recommendations. Such attempts began when diet-related health problems in the United States shifted in prevalence from nutrient deficiencies to chronic diseases, and dietary advice shifted from "eat more" to "eat less." The Pyramid controversy focuses attention on the conflict between federal protection of the rights of food lobbyists to act in their own self-interest, and federal responsibility to promote the nutritional health of the public. Since 1977, for example, under pressure from meat producers, federal dietary advice has evolved from "decrease consumption of meat" to "have two or three (daily) servings." Thus, this recent incident also highlights the inherent conflict of interest in the Department of Agriculture's dual mandates to promote U.S. agricultural products and to advise the public about healthy food choices.
1991年，美国农业部应肉类和奶制品生产商的压力撤回了其“正确饮食金字塔”食物指南，这只是长期以来食品行业一系列影响联邦饮食建议的最新举措。此类举措始于美国与饮食相关的健康问题的流行趋势从营养缺乏转向慢性病，饮食建议也从“多吃”转变为“少吃”之时。金字塔争议将人们的注意力聚焦于联邦政府在保护食品游说团体为自身利益行事的权利与促进公众营养健康的责任之间的冲突。例如，自1977年以来，在肉类生产商的压力下，联邦饮食建议已从“减少肉类消费”演变为“（每天）食用两到三份”。因此，最近这起事件也凸显了美国农业部在推广美国农产品和就健康食品选择向公众提供建议这一双重任务中固有的利益冲突。
