September 11, 2004

Comments Requested on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Recommendations

The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) announced that public comments are now being accepted on the Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005 to the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Agriculture. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to provide written comments by Monday, Sept. 27, or provide oral comments at a public meeting on Sept. 21.

The 13 professionals on the current advisory committee have held five public meetings over the last year. The next step, after a 30-day comment period, will be an internal scientific review of the document. Later this fall, HHS and USDA will consider public comments as they translate the advisory committee's report into the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Secretary Thompson and Secretary Veneman will release the 2005 Dietary Guidelines jointly early next year.

The report is available in the Aug. 27 edition of the Federal Register. An electronic copy of the advisory committee document is available at http://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=7940526&u=65457.

HHS and USDA are soliciting submission of written comments on the Committee's final Report, as well as views, information and data pertinent to preparation of Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. e.d.t. on September 27, 2004 to assure consideration.
Comments may be submitted at http://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=7940526&u=65458 or mailed to
Kathryn McMurry,
HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion,
Office of Public Health and Science,
1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite LL100, Rockville, MD 20852,
(phone 240-453-8280).
For those submitting written comments more than 5 pages in length, please provide a 1-page summary of key points related to the comments submitted. E-mailed comments will not be accepted.

A public meeting to solicit oral comments on the Report will take place on September 21, 2004, starting at 9 a.m. e.d.t.
The meeting will be held at
The Hubert H. Humphrey Building,
200 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Small Auditorium, Washington, DC, 20201.
The building is located 2 blocks from the Federal Center, SW. stop on the blue and orange metro lines. The agenda will include oral testimony from registered individuals or groups.

Public Participation at Meeting:
The meeting is open to the public. Space is limited. Due to the need for security screening, registration is required for all attendees. To register, please e-mail , with "Meeting Registration'' in the subject line or call Sandra Saunders at (240) 453-8272 by 5 p.m. e.d.t., Friday, September 14, 2004. Registration must include your name, affiliation, and phone number. Visitors must bring proper identification to attend the meeting. If you require a sign language interpreter, please call Sandra Saunders at (240) 453-8272 by September 14, 2004.

Oral Testimony:
By this notice, the Departments are inviting submission of applications for oral testimony at the public meeting. Due to time limitations, registration is required and will be limited to one presenter per organization. Registration to present oral testimony will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis, as time on the meeting agenda permits. Name of the presenter, organization affiliation (if applicable), source of funding, and contact phone number are required for registration. Requests to testify must include a written outline of the intended testimony not exceeding one page in length. Requests can be submitted electronically with "Oral Testimony Registration'' in the subject line, to . All requests to present oral testimony must be received by 5 p.m. e.d.t., September 14, 2004. Presenters are required to disclose their affiliation and their source of funding to give oral testimony at the meeting and must limit their comments to three minutes. Please call Sandra Saunders at (240) 453- 8272 if you have questions regarding registration.

The Weston A. Price Foundation will provide both oral testimony and written comments on the recommendations.

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This page was posted on 09/17/04