This cycle, the USDA and HHS, the two agencies responsible for publishing the DGAs, are proposing to flip the usual process by first determining key scientific questions that will guide the development of the DGAs prior to appointing an expert Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC). The usual process would give the DGAC responsibility for determining scientific questions. The Departments listed a number of topics and relevant questions for the following age groups: infants and toddlers (birth to 24 months); children and adolescents (2-18 years out); adults (19-64 years old); pregnancy and lactation; and older adults (65 years and older). 

Overall, the Tisch Food Center recommended that HHS and USDA:

• Ensure that a detailed and comprehensive description of current dietary patterns, including food groups and nutrients for each stage of life, is included in the DGA report.
• Revise the topics and questions in each life stage to reflect a public health framing, specifically acknowledging how healthy and dietary choices throughout life can impact the risk of chronic disease.
• Continue making the DGAs as comprehensive as possible—if there is guidance in the 2015 DGAs that will not be reviewed by the DGAC because the science has not changed, that guidance should still be included in the 2020 DGAs.

 To read our full response to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines topics and questions, click here: .