DENVER, CO – Among the published works of a renowned nutrition researcher, who is set to advise an upcoming White House conference on hunger and nutrition, is a study claiming that candy and cereal are as healthy to eat than dietary staples like beef, chicken and eggs.
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and dean at the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, has authored more than 450 scientific publications and is a co-chair of the task force Informing the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.
One of the primary achievements boasted by Mozaffarian and Tufts is the development of the “Food Compass” in 2021, funded in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It rates thousands of foods and beverages on a scale of 0-100 based on nine nutritional values.
According to Moxaffarian’s scale used in the Food Compass, food or beverages with the following scores should be consumed accordingly:
- 0-30: limited consumption
- 31-69: consume in moderation
- 70-100: highly encouraged, no limitations
While the methodology behind the ratings appears to be objective and comprehensive, some critics have pointed out some odd rankings by the system.
Some lean meats fall into the same category as Cocoa Puffs cereal potato chips, and M&M’s candy; the consume in moderation category. But lean roast beef, ground beef, pork roast, pork chops and cheddar cheese fall into the limited consumption category.
Colin Woodall, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO, said, “No one sits down to a plate of candy and chips expecting a healthy meal, but a lean cut of beef accompanied by vegetables or fruits and whole grains is a healthy choice every time. To suggest otherwise is irresponsible, and it confuses consumers at a time when we should be working to meet their nutritional needs, rather than confounding them with agenda-driven faux science.”
