Finally, after all that, the report is released to the public. Sometimes the public and the food industry heed the recommendations, other times not. It’s purely a recommendation, and some may not like the message or choose to ignore it for economic or other reasons. But one thing is certain – the findings will have an impact and certainly will garner a lot of media attention because it affects the daily activity of every living person.

The American Diet Is Not Optimal

In the cover letter of the 2015 report, Barbara Millen, the chairperson of the 2015 Dietary Advisory Committee, described the American diet as “sub-optimal.” She noted that roughly half of all adults have a diet-related chronic disease and an under-consumption of vital vitamins and minerals related to that diet.

But perhaps the most shocking new finding is the report’s note that “cholesterol is not considered a nutrient of concern for overconsumption,” a recommendation that flies in the face of previous wisdom. “Available evidence shows no appreciable relationship between consumption of dietary cholesterol and serum (blood) cholesterol, consistent with the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology report.”

That advice differs from dietary recommendations about cholesterol for more than 50 years. So while it’s not a license to eat high-cholesterol foods like shrimp, eggs and lobster each day, it’s not necessary to be as restrictive as previously thought. It’s anticipated that the egg industry in particular will greet the news joyously.