The beef industry is seeing opportunity in the Health and Human Services’ Make America Healthy Again movement.
One dietitian says that it is a chance to get back to the basics of beef.
According to Dr. Shalene McNeill, “A lot of people are still struggling with eating healthier and when we get back to the basics and we think about it comes down to getting adequate nutrition, getting enough of the nutrients that you need, getting enough protien in your diet so you’re satisfied and getting a balanced diet with fiber and all those things, and beef can be a very important foundational food in helping families build balanced meals and get the nutrition that they need. So, I think this interest that we have in nutrition is a great opportunity for the beef industry and for the Beef Check Off to tout the benefits of beef, which we know we’ve had for a long time.”
Secretary Robert Kennedy’s MAHA report from May highlights beef’s role in metabolic health and strong bones.
While some parts of the report have faced criticism, McNeill says that research on beef’s nutritional benefits is consistent and well-established.
“Who’s determining all the scientific evidence in the Make America Healthy Again report? That’s a separate conversation from what we know about the science on beef. What we know about the science on beef is that it’s strong. There’s probably no one that has looked at the evidence more than the Beef Check Off. I’ve personally probably looked more on beef research than most people, and I can tell you that consistently, we see great benefits of eating beef as part of a balanced diet. So, there will be controversies over the scientific rigor of any report that’s out there, but what I can assure you is that the scientific evidence on beef is very strong.”
McNeill says that beef’s most compelling selling point is the combination of taste and nutrition. She says that beef has a craveability not found in many other nutrient-dense foods.
