‘Fat’ Publication Explains Beef’s Role in Diet

April 17, 2000

Two new four-page publications have been funded by the beef checkoff program, one designed to provide information about fat’s role in the diet, beef’s contribution to diet and misconceptions about beef, fat and health. The other discusses vegetarian eating patterns and a variety of potential teen-age health problems associated with a vegetarian diet.

More than 40 scientific sources were consulted for the publications, including the American Heart Association, the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the Nutrition Committee of The American Academy of Pediatrics and other leading medical journals and health organizations.

The American Academy of Pediatrics acknowledges that "properly planned" vegetarian diets can be nutritionally adequate but warns that ‘numerous restrictions or ill-advised meal planning may result in diets that are dangerous."

"There is a lot of scientific information out there about nutrition that may seem conflicting to the average consumer," said Scott George, Cody, WY, cattle producer and chair of the beef industry’s education subcommittee. "The Facts for Your Files publications put solid scientific information in the hands of educators in an effort to correct some of the myths about beef nutrition."