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The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans claim to be based on scientific findings and were produced under the guidance of a panel of experts. However the guidelines advocate using butter and beef tallow as cooking oils in spite of the strong evidence that these fats increase blood levels of LDL cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.
With regard to butter, a study of 200,000 nurses and male health professionals found a 15% higher mortality over a more than 30-year period for those in the top one quarter of butter consumption compared to the lowest one quarter. This is consistent with short-term studies that find that butter increases LDL cholesterol when compared to vegetable oils.
The guidelines also advocate the consumption of red meat, in spite of strong evidence linking it to heart disease. As is the case with other policies of the current administration that depend on science, skepticism of the new guidelines is clearly justified.
John Tjepkema
Orono