Glickman Challenges Consumers to Eat Healthier

November 4, 1999

Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman says consumers must take responsibility for their own health and improve their diets and increase physical activity. USDA will take several actions designed to help people change their dietary behavior.

Dietary Guidelines 2000 will be released soon, says Glickman, providing "common sense advice about good nutrition and healthy lifestyles for the new millennium." A "National Nutrition Summit," cosponsored by USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services, will call attention to the need for better nutrition.

In May, USDA will begin a new "behavioral nutrition research initiative" that will bring together USDA researchers, the academic community and the private sector to explore consumers' food choices. A new "interactive healthy eating index," an Internet tool, will allow users to grade their own diets and track changes in their diets over time.

"Government can shine the spotlight and direct resources to solving the problems of obesity and poor nutrition," says Glickman, "but only individuals can commit themselves to good nutrition and good health."