Regulatory Comments
Submitted by the National Restaurant Association
To: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Date: Oct. 3, 2003
Topic: Dietary Guidelines

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October 3, 2003

Ms. Kathryn McMurry
HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Room 738 - G
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201

Dear Ms. McMurry:

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry. Together with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Association's mission is to represent, educate and promote a rapidly growing industry that is comprised of 870,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets employing 11.7 million people. As such, nutrition is a priority for our ever-growing industry. We would like to take this opportunity to provide comments pertinent to the review of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The restaurant industry's objective is to provide a variety of food options to accommodate the various needs of a diverse population. It is important that all Americans be reminded to balance this variety of food choices with physical activity to maintain a healthy lifestyle. We believe that it is important that when the Committee is revising the Dietary Guidelines, they keep in mind that our diverse population is much in need of recommendations that are understandable and relevant to how they live their lives.

We believe that it is important for the public to receive positive messages about nutrition from responsible officials. The public is often confused by the mixed messages that they receive on nutrition. Efforts to alienate certain foods and label them as "bad" foods perpetrate the myth that there are "good" foods and "bad" foods. Such mixed messages complicate what should be a very consistent message about healthy lifestyles, exercise and responsibility. This is why we urge the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee to provide dietary advice that is easily understood and applicable to the American public.

The National Restaurant Association appreciates the opportunity to submit these comments and thanks the USDA for soliciting the opinion of the restaurant industry. Please feel free to call on us with any questions you may have regarding this issue, at (202) 331-5986.

Sincerely,

Steven F. Grover, R.E.H.S.
Vice President, Health and Safety Regulatory Affairs