US Senators from both the Republican and Democratic parties have urged officials of the US Department of Agriculture to throw out a controversial proposal to reclassify potato as a grain.
A joint advisory committee, tasked with providing recommendations to USDA and HHS secretaries to help inform their development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), is considering the interchangeability of starchy vegetables and grains.
This contentious issue would see the potato’s classification change from vegetable in the upcoming DGAs for the years 2025-2030.
A group of 14 senators has written to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, stating: “The scientific basis for claiming potatoes are not vegetables is as thin as a potato chip. Potatoes offer real nutritional value, and we vehemently oppose their reclassification as a grain under the DGAs.”
The potato has been classified as a vegetable since the inception of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The letter refers to potatoes as “powerhouses of potassium, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and fibre”, adding that a new classification would confuse consumers and throw the entire supply chain into chaos.
The Senators also cited a 2013 National Library of Medicine study entitled ‘White Potatoes, Human Health, and Dietary Guidance’ which championed the potato’s cause aqnd says it should be in the vegetable group because it contributes critical nutrients.
The Senators highlighted that the reclassification would deprive consumers of vital nutrients.
Their letter states: “Our federal nutrition programs rely on the DGAs to ensure that program beneficiaries are receiving well-balanced, nutritious food. Such a change could also come at a cost to our nation’s schools. Under the National School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs, schools already struggle to meet vegetable consumption recommendations at a reasonable cost, and potatoes are often the most affordable vegetable.”
Sources: The Wall Street Journal, Food & Wine, The Print
