Urgent Action Needed for Aus. Dietary Guidelines!

[markB]

The Australian Dietary Guidelines have recently been under review and the draft document has been made public and commented upon.

Originally it was intended that the Guidelines would take into account environmental concerns (as well as health), but because of intense lobbying from the National Farmers Federation, this did not occur.

Now a draft appendix has been released ("The Dietary Guidelines Through an Environmental Lens"), and we have until November 2 to comment on it. However, the NFF is lobbying for the Appendix to be scrapped.

Please take the time to read it and make a comment on it. Basically the points I recommend making are:

1. The Appendix should not be scrapped.

2. It does not go far enough in advising consumers as it does not make clear that reducing animal products is by far the most significant way they can reduce the negative environmental impact of their food choices.

3. Environmental impacts should have been taken into account when developing the guidelines, as this pressing issue deserves more than a mere appendix.

The draft can be read and comments submitted here:

http://consultations.nhmrc.gov.au/public_consultations/dietary-appendix