By Everything GP (Curtis Galbraith)

Positives and negatives in new Food Guide says ABP official

Jan 24, 2019 | 5:50 AM

GRANDE PRAIRIE- An Alberta Beef Producers spokesman says there are both positives and negatives in the new Food Guide put out Tuesday by Health Canada.
 
Government Relations and Policy Manager Tom Lynch-Staunton tells EverythingGP that positives include an emphasis on whole foods, eating fruits and vegetables, and cooking and eating with family.
 
He adds ABP gets nervous about the guide talking about choosing plant proteins over meat.
 
“We know that beef and other animal proteins are nutrient dense. They are nutritious foods and can contribute positively to a balanced diet. We worry about what the emphasis is on plant-based proteins implies to people and how Canadians will interpret that.”
 
Lynch-Staunton worries people will think plant proteins are better than animal ones. He thinks a statement about eating a variety of protein-based foods would have been better.
 
“People may consider substituting a pulse, let’s say 75 grams of tofu, for 75 grams of beef. The thing people have to realize is that both of those may be good for you, but they’ll have different nutritional qualities.”
 
He adds ABP will continue to talk about the benefits of beef.
 
“The Health Minister (Ginette Petitpas Taylor) has indicated that the Food Guide is evolving and they will consider evidence as it becomes available, so we will continue to advocate for the nutritional benefits of beef and how applying it in a balanced diet will benefit the health of Canadians.”
 
Other farm groups have also reacted to the new Food Guide.
 
The Canadian Cattleman’s Association says in a statement that Health Canada missed a chance to talk about the nutritional benefits of eating lean beef. It does welcome the new Guide saying lean red meat can be a healthy source of protein.
 
Alberta Pork says in a Facebook post plant proteins do not have what it terms “many essential qualities of meat” but did not specify which ones,
 
Dairy Farmers of Canada says the new food guide ignores what it calls mounting scientific evidence that milk products can be an important part of a healthy diet.

(Everything GP)