Public Comments on Dietary Guidelines Protocols

Dear Friend,

Dairy Council of California continues to engage in the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans process, translating dairy nutrition science that advocates for milk and dairy foods’ role in healthy eating patterns. In January, the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee held its fourth meeting which was focused on presenting new drafts of food pattern modeling protocols that could have implications on future dairy recommendations. Dairy Council of CA submitted public comments to provide factual scientific information in relation to the protocol analyzing a new vegan-type dietary pattern that omits all animal-sourced foods. 

Following are highlights from Dairy Council of CA public comments:

• Dairy foods play a critical role in achieving nutrition security, providing the nutrients required for optimal growth and development for children, as well as meeting the nutritional needs of adults of all ages, while offering variety, affordability and cultural relevance to American families.
• Dietary guidance that generally restricts or eliminates nutrient-dense foods, including animal-sourced foods, could have the potential to prevent the supply of critical nutrients to people in nutritionally vulnerable life stages.
• Evidence-based nutrition research continues to demonstrate the health-promoting benefits of a balanced eating approach that includes nutrient-dense plant and animal choices and embraces the specific nutrient needs of individuals, diverse cultures and economies.

Our full public comments are available here. We encourage members of the dairy community to get involved and share their input through the public comment process. Dairy Council of CA can provide evidence-based information to support your dairy education efforts. As we continue to follow the process for determining the next Dietary Guidelines for Americans, we will keep you apprised of updates, milestones and implications for dairy.

White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities

To build momentum from the 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, the Biden-Harris administration launched the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities. Commitments from across the nation were announced recently, including: 

• California’s commitment to expand healthy food access through universal school meals for public school students and the California Farm to School program. Learn more here.
• International Dairy Foods Association’s Healthy School Milk Commitment for reducing added sugars, a voluntary effort on behalf of America’s school milk processors to reduce added sugars in school milk by the 2025–2026 school year. Learn more here.

New Video: How California Dairy Supports People and Planet

Our latest video, produced in collaboration with Dairy Cares with funding from the California Cattle Council, features Ashley Rosales, Nutrition and Industry Affairs Officer for Dairy Council of CA. In the video, Rosales highlights how the California dairy community is leading the charge toward a greener future while also supporting nutrition security. Watch here.

Find more resources on dairy’s role in sustainable nutrition on our website.   

California Agriculture Day

On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, California Department of Food and Agriculture, in partnership with California Women for Agriculture and California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, will host Ag Day on the West Steps of the state Capitol. Dairy Council of CA will be there to participate in the annual celebration recognizing California’s agricultural community and to share the California dairy community’s commitment to providing agricultural and nutrition education to children, families and communities with state legislators, government leaders and the public. Come visit our booth and see our Mobile Dairy Classroom in action.

California Dairy Sustainability Summit

There is still time to register for the fourth California Dairy Sustainability Summit, taking place March 26, 2024, at the UC Davis Conference Center in Davis, California. The summit promotes advancement of planet-smart dairy farming practices and sustainable, nutritious food systems. Register to attend in person or virtually on the summit website.

Virtual registration is being provided at no charge to all dairy farmers, thanks to our hosts and partners. Use the following code: DAIRYFARMER

Virtual registration is being provided at no charge to students, thanks to Dairy Farmers of America. Use the following code: DFAStudent

Spotlight on Dairy Nutrition Research and Media

• Dairy Council of CA’s Kristal Mylander was featured in the Associated Press article Should Saturated Fats Always Be Avoided? Surprising Dairy Research May Suggest Otherwise. The article, developed in partnership with the California Milk Advisory Board, highlights new research on the health benefits of whole milk and whole milk dairy foods. Read the full article here.
• The Food and Drug Administration announced a qualified health claim for yogurt and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Read the full announcement here.

If you have questions, concerns or feedback you would like to share, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Best regards,

Amy DeLisio, CEO
Dairy Council of California
adelisio@DairyCouncilofCA.org