WASHINGTON (July 22, 2020) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today launched a nationwide grassroots campaign to highlight the #BenefitsofBeef and is calling on cattle producers to submit public comments in support of federal dietary guidelines that recognize beef’s role in a healthy diet.

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) last week released its Scientific Report, laying the groundwork for five years of federal nutrition guidance. Americans now have until Aug. 13 to submit official comments as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) work to finalize the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs).

NCBA has engaged for the past two years to ensure the Dietary Guidelines are focused on nutrition and based on sound science. NCBA applauded the DGAC’s recommendations released last week, but anti-meat advocates are already working to downplay the important role meat plays in these guidelines.

“Study after study shows that beef plays an important role in a balanced, healthy diet across the lifespan,” said NCBA President Marty Smith. “NCBA has made it a priority to protect the scientific credibility of Dietary Guidelines and promote accurate information about the nutritional advantages of beef as part of a balanced diet.”

No process is perfect and NCBA believes there is room for improvement when the final guidelines are released later this year.

“The science is on our side when it comes to the #BenefitsofBeef. We’re now in the home stretch of this process. NCBA is calling on cattle producers to submit public comments to ensure the strong science reinforcing beef as a food for health is adequately reflected in the final 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” Smith said.

NCBA will generate public comments by reaching out to cattle producers via e-mail blast, text messages, social media, and earned media between now and Aug. 13. Producers can also file comments by clicking here.

NCBA news release