"The Trump administration announced last week that it wants Americans to consume more protein, churning out a colorful illustration of an inverted food pyramid that prominently features a big, red steak, a wedge of cheese, and a carton of whole milk at the top and claiming it's "ending the war on protein." It may seem like another example of cartoonish propaganda from an administration that essentially runs on memes, but don't be fooled: It signals a marked turn from previous advice that encouraged Americans to limit high-fat sources of protein like red meat and whole milk for their health, which can incidentally also curb planet-heating pollution from the beef and dairy industries."
""There's been plenty of debate over how fair it is to judge individual consumers for the carbon footprint of food systems, especially when a person's choices might be limited. Plus, the environmental impact of what we eat depends a lot on the way industries conduct their business, experts tell The Verge. Besides, the US stopped using the food pyramid as an official guide in 2011, and survey data shows Americans don't follow federal nutritional recommendations anyway. But if the Trump administration's new dietary guidelines actually result in real changes to American food production and diets, that could wind up leading to more of the pollution that exacerbates climate change.""
The administration unveiled dietary guidance favoring greater protein intake, illustrated by an inverted food pyramid highlighting red meat, cheese, and whole milk. The guidance represents a shift away from prior recommendations that advised limiting high-fat animal proteins for health and environmental reasons. The United States stopped using the traditional food pyramid in 2011, and many Americans do not follow federal nutritional guidance. The environmental effect of dietary choices depends heavily on industry practices and consumers' available options. If the new guidance changes production or consumption patterns, beef and dairy sectors could produce more pollution that worsens climate change.
Read at The Verge
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