The Checkoff referred to research it said was not previously considered in an earlier report from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC), such as the benefits of heme iron, potassium and vitamin B12 in the diet.
Adria Sheil-Brown, manager of nutrition communication and research at the National Pork Board, which has responsibility for Check-off funded research, promotion and consumer information projects, said: "The National Pork Board supports the recommendations in the previous dietary guidelines for the consumption of lean meat and protein foods."
It said that consumption data showed nutrient-rich meats were not over-consumed in the average American diet. "In fact, more than 60% of the US population is consuming the Protein Food Group at or below the recommended intake levels and low intake of protein remains a special concern among older adults, according to the technical report," added Sheil-Brown.
Meanwhile a letter from the NPPC, which represents 43 state pork producer associations, accused the DGAC of not applying "the rigorous standard required of the Nutritional Evidence Library to the evidence guiding its deliberations concerning animal protein".
It said it was concerned that existing literature and systematic reviews used by DGAC members had not been subject to the same level of screening that the Nutrition Evidence Library applied in admitting independent evidence. The NPPC added that red meats and processed meats were broad and diverse categories, so should not be generalised.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), and the North American Meat Institute have also voiced their concerns about the removal of lean meat from the proposed guidelines, describing the move as inconsistent with other recommendations in the report, and have pressed for its inclusion.
Philip Ellis, president of the NCBA, said: "To date, there are nearly 20 randomized controlled trials including the BOLD study showing healthful dietary patterns with 4-5.5 ounces of lean red meat daily supports good health. The Advisory Committee ignored this evidence, and instead relied heavily on weaker forms of science, such as observational evidence."
The DGAC’s report was submitted to the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, and Agriculture – Sylvia M Burwell and Tom Vilsack, earlier this year, with the deadline for comments last Friday (8 May). The final guidelines will be published later this year.