The former USDA director of the dietary
guidance Luise Light said that there is a very obvious conflicts of interest
between the USDA and the food industry occured during the 1980’s while the
original Food Pyramid was being designed. Whereas the USDA nutritionists called
for a base of 5-9 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day but was
replaced with a very small amount of 2-3 servings. Their recommendation of 3-4
daily servings of whole-grain breads and cereals was changed to a very large
6-11 servings forming the base of the Food Pyramid as a concession to the
processed wheat and corn industries. According to Light, if this will be
followed, it could lead to an epidemic of obesity and diabetes and this could
not be justified on either health or nutritional grounds.
