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With American’s Dietary Guidelines revisions right around the corner, a coalition of 22 plant-based brands have joined forces to [hopefully] influence the government’s new food rules.

The team, composed of companies including Daiya Foods, Field Roast Grain Meat Co., The Tofurky Company and others, has submitted a 15-page letter outlining the case for more plants to be added to the nation’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans policy.

The guidelines are updated every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s (DGAC) recent report did recommend a diet lower in meat and higher in fruits and vegetables, but these findings are optional as far as the decision-makers are concerned.

“We have a very good shot at getting a message to ‘lower red meat and processed meat consumption’ included in the final guidelines, as well as clear advice to increase plant-based foods overall,” says Michele Simon, food expert and leader of the coalition. “That said, the meat lobby is quite powerful and may hold sway.”

The coalition’s letter goes into extensive detail about the health benefits of plant-based foods; the risks that come with eating meat, dairy and eggs; and the issue of sustainability, which is a controversial topic, to say the least. You can read the full version online here. It’s a compelling case, but will government employees listen, after decades of being lobbied by big ag?

The full list of companies on board includes AB Foods / Match, Better Bean Company, Chicago Vegan Foods, Daiya Foods, Follow Your Heart, Emmy’s Organics, Field Roast Grain Meat Co., Fig Food Company, Fruit Bliss, Heidi Ho Organics, Lightlife Foods, Miyoko’s Kitchen, Next Level Burger, No Evil Foods, Prosperity Organic Foods / Melt, OMilk, Real Food Daily, Sweet Earth Natural Foods, Taft Foodmasters, The Tofurky Company, Tomato Sushi and Upton’s Naturals. Other companies are welcome to join via a form on the coalition’s website.

“The longer term plan is to create a formal trade group that continues to advocate on this matter, as well as many other policy issues relevant to the plant foods sector,” explains Simon.

Let’s hope the USDA and HHS keep their priorities straight and make a sound decision based on science.

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