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Announcement of First Meeting of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and Request for Comments

The Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services announce the first meeting of the newly appointed 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (the Committee). This meeting will be open to the public. Additionally, this notice opens a public comment period that will remain open until early 2020, throughout the Committee's deliberations.

Authority and Purpose:

Under Section 301 of PL 101-445 (7 USC 5341), the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990, Title III) the Secretaries of USDA and HHS are directed to publish the Dietary Guidelines for Americans jointly at least every five years. The law instructs that this publication shall contain nutritional and dietary information and guidelines for the general public, shall be based on the preponderance of scientific and medical knowledge current at the time of publication; and shall be promoted by each Federal agency in carrying out any federal food, nutrition, or health program. Recent editions of the Dietary Guidelines provide dietary advice for Americans ages 2 years and older. The Agricultural Act of 2014 mandates the addition of dietary guidance for women who are pregnant and infants and toddlers from birth to 24 months of age beginning with the 2020 edition.

USDA and HHS appointed the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee to conduct an independent scientific review that will help inform the Departments' development of the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines. Information on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee membership and the topics and scientific questions the Departments identified to be examined by the Committee is available at www.DietaryGuidelines.gov.

The 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee's formation is governed under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), PL 92-463, as amended (5 USC, App), which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory committees.

Page updated: January 31, 2024