The National Potato Council (NPC) has issued a response to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee's (DGAC) recent suggestions to reduce the intake of starchy vegetables like potatoes, countering the committee's stance with the argument that Americans are already not consuming an adequate amount of vegetables. NPC's CEO, Kam Quarles, emphasized the importance of potatoes in diets across the United States, highlighting the vegetable's nutritional and economic benefits. Quarles criticized the DGAC's recommendations as lacking in nutritional scientific support and potentially misleading for consumers. He advocated for the USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to prioritize increasing vegetable consumption in general, rather than diminishing the recommended intake of starchy vegetables.
Additionally, the NPC has expressed approval of the DGAC's decision to not categorize starchy vegetables and grains as interchangeable, a topic that was considered during the committee's discussions. Quarles remarked on the essential role of potatoes in ensuring affordable, nutritious, and appealing meal options for educational institutions and other programs. He stated, "Potatoes are a vegetable. Period. Despite some initial views to the contrary, we are pleased the full committee rejected attempts to place potatoes and other starchy vegetables in a different food category."
Source: National Potato Council