Tag: Government agencies

The common question, "When did the FDA release the food pyramid?", is based on a misconception, as it was actually the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that introduced the iconic Food Guide Pyramid in 1992. This initial version was the result of extensive testing and was designed to visually represent daily serving recommendations for different food groups.

According to the World Health Organization, 1.9 billion adults worldwide are overweight or obese, a public health crisis that government nutritional research is crucial in addressing. This vital work generates the evidence required for policies aimed at improving the health and well-being of entire populations. So, why do government agencies conduct nutritional research and how does it benefit citizens?

Did you know that in the US, a single agency doesn't oversee all food labels? The complex task of answering who is in charge of regulating food labels involves a collaborative effort among several federal organizations, each with a specific product-based jurisdiction.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), developing nutrition guidelines is an evidence-informed, consensual decision-making process involving numerous health professionals and government bodies. This collaborative effort determines the official recommendations that influence public health policy, nutrition education, and food labels. So, who makes nutrition guidelines, and what does this process entail?