Dietary Guidelines and Complex Carbohydrates

Abstract

In January, 1996 the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services jointly released the 1995 Dietary Guidelines for Healthy Americans (1). Since 1980, review and publication of revised Dietary Guidelines has occurred every 5 years; however, the 1995 review is the first that was mandated by public law (Public Law 101–445, Section 3). The Guidelines, as released, are based on a report submitted to the Secretaries of these agencies that is developed by an 11 member Advisory Committee (2). However, the bulletin is reviewed and revised within the agencies before publication. The recommendations in the bulletin form the basis of Federal policy and education programs in food, nutrition and health and provide a working agreement between Agriculture and Health and Human Services for their programs. The written text of the guidelines is aimed at consumers; nonetheless, it is intended to reflect current scientific knowledge and has relied upon such reports as the Surgeon General’s Report on Nutrition and Health, the National Academy of Sciences Report on Diet and Health and the tenth edition of the Recommended Dietary Allowances as well as current scientific literature (3–5).