Feds: Eat less meat to fight climate change

First it was your mom, now it's your Big Brother.

The federal government, through the U.S. 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, is recommending we all eat more fruits and veggies because "consistent evidence indicates that, in general, a dietary pattern that is higher in plant-based foods… and lower in animal-based foods is more health promoting and is associated with lesser environmental impact."

Not surprisingly, the meat industry is not pleased. The Washington Times reports that Barry Carpenter, President and CEO of the North American Meat said "'the Committee's foray into the murky waters of sustainability… is akin to having a dermatologist provide recommendations about cardiac care."

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According to the Times, if the herbivore suggestion makes it into the annual dietary guidelines released by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, it will "mark the first time environmental factors impacted a set of guidelines traditionally aimed at healthy eating and nutrition."