US Beef Board
I call BS.
I was around when the FP was being planned and discussed. Money wasn't an issue. Input from the American Cancer, Diabetes and Heart associations were. As well as about 2 decades of clinical findings supporting the structure. The goals were to increase overall fiber and plant food intake to meet nutritional needs and decrease intake of saturated fat and refined sugars.
The lobby that was hitting the hardest and the meanest was the US Beef Board. They make big tobacco look like pansies.
Scary group of folks.
You can call BS, but you're wrong.
When Atkins and South Beach were at their peaks a year or two ago, the USDA was reviewing the pyramid. The corn and wheat lobbies were all over the place, even placing ads on local televison (we get tons of lobbyist ads in the DC market. Beef wasn't nearly as aggressive - they didn't need to be, everyone was buying into high protein, low carb. Corn and wheat had sponsored articles in the Post, the Times, all over.
If you really doubt the power of the corn lobby, look at the ethanol requirements. They don't really solve any problems enviornmentally, but we're all required to use it now.
NEVER trust anything that the gov't puts out as required or "recommended". It's always cash-based.
Beef's good, tofu sucks. ;-)
What's for lunch?