Central ND News

Lawmakers are voicing their concerns over the possibility of potatoes being reclassified as a grain in the upcoming 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This potential change has prompted U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer and U.S. Senator Susan Collins to take action by sending a letter to USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.

In the letter, the senators expressed their opposition to the reclassification of potatoes, emphasizing the potential negative impact on consumers and the food supply chain. They highlighted the importance of maintaining potatoes' current classification as a vegetable, stating that any change would lead to confusion among various stakeholders.

The senators pointed out that defining potatoes as a grain could have significant implications for federal nutrition programs, such as the National School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs. They argued that schools already struggle to meet vegetable consumption recommendations at a reasonable cost, and potatoes are often a key affordable vegetable option.

Furthermore, the lawmakers referenced a 2013 National Library of Medicine Study that supports the classification of potatoes as a vegetable due to their contribution of critical nutrients. They urged the departments to consider the findings of the study and refrain from reclassifying potatoes as a grain.

In conclusion, the senators called on the USDA and HHS to provide an update on the issue and emphasized the importance of maintaining potatoes' current classification. The letter serves as a formal request to address the concerns raised by lawmakers regarding the potential reclassification of potatoes in the upcoming Dietary Guidelines for Americans.