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WASHINGTON, September 5, 2018 – In coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the public call for nominations to the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC). The independent advisory committee will review the scientific evidence to help inform the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Secretaries Perdue and Azar will consider the scientific review as they oversee development of, and approve, the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The deadline to submit nominations for the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee is October 6, 2018, at 11:59 pm, Eastern Time.

“We are looking forward to a robust group of nominees to serve on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee,” said Brandon Lipps, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services at USDA, the administrative lead for the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. “The public’s participation throughout the development of the guidelines is crucial as we work hard to ensure the process is transparent and science-driven.”

The next edition of the guidelines will take a life stage approach, reflecting an expansion to include pregnant women and children from birth to 24 months as mandated by the 2014 Farm Bill. The scientific review conducted by the advisory committee will be guided by topics and supporting questions that reflect earlier public comments, and focus on patterns of what we eat and drink to help prevent disease and keep people healthy. The government is seeking nominations that reflect expertise related to these areas.

“The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee fulfills an important role in the development of each edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” said Admiral Brett P. Giroir, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS. “The committee’s independent, expert review of the current evidence on the role of nutrition in disease prevention and health promotion helps to ensure that the guidelines are based on sound science.”

Information on how to submit nominations, factors USDA and HHS will consider in selecting the committee members, and the updated topics and supporting scientific questions are available through DietaryGuidelines.gov.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans serves as the cornerstone of federal nutrition programs and policies, providing food-based recommendations to help prevent diet-related chronic diseases and promote overall health. According to the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990, the guidelines are mandated to reflect the preponderance of scientific evidence, and is published jointly by USDA and HHS every five years. For information and links, go to DietaryGuidelines.gov.

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service aims to increase food security and reduce hunger by providing children and low-income people access to food, a healthful diet and nutrition education in a way that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence. In addition to co-developing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and providing nutrition education through MyPlate, the agency administers a network of nutrition assistance programs that comprise America’s nutrition safety net. For more information, visit www.fns.usda.gov.