Republicans push back against proposed dietary guidelines

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional Republicans are pushing back against proposed dietary guidelines that urge Americans to consider the environment when deciding what foods to eat.

The advice from a government advisory panel of independent doctors and nutrition experts has raised the ire of the meat industry.

While the guidelines always have been subject to intense lobbying by food industries, this year's version has set off unprecedented political debate, fueled by Republicans' claims the Obama administration has gone too far in telling people what to eat.

The bill has frustrated groups such as the American Cancer Society, which says the legislation could strip the dietary guidelines of a recommendation that reducing consumption of red meat and processed meats can lower the risk of colon cancer.

Based on the Grade 1 parameters, the guidelines also may be prevented from making recommendations on physical activity, including advising increased exercise based on its benefits for heart health and other disease prevention.

A Senate bill overseeing spending for the Health and Human Services Department is vaguer, saying the guidelines must be "based only on a preponderance of nutritional and scientific evidence and not extraneous information."