Public Comments

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USDA and HHS value the input and engagement from the public during the process to develop the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines. Written and oral comment opportunities are now closed. Public engagement in this process led to over 113,000 written comments and close to 200 oral comments. 

To read written comments sent to the Departments and to the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, visit our pages on Regulations.gov via the table below. Similarly, use the table to view archived webcasts from the three public oral comment opportunities.

Comment Opportunities Sent to Date(s)
Written comments on the topics and supporting scientific questions USDA - HHS February 28 - March 30, 2018
Written comments on the Advisory Committee’s work Advisory Committee March 12, 2019 - June 10, 2020
Oral comments to the Advisory Committee - Meeting 2 Advisory Committee July 11, 2019
Oral comments to the Advisory Committee - Meeting 4 Advisory Committee January 24, 2020
Written comments on the Scientific Report USDA - HHS July 15 – August 13, 2020
Oral comments on the Scientific Report USDA - HHS August 11, 2020

USDA and HHS will consider the Advisory Committee’s Scientific Report, along with public and agency comments on the Scientific Report, as the Departments develop the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines. To ensure the scientific foundation of the Dietary Guidelines, emphasis is placed on comments with scientific justification, not the number of comments for or against a topic or conclusion. When writing the Dietary Guidelines, the Departments will consider the totality of the scientific evidence and not individual studies or opinions. Public and agency comments can help the Dietary Guidelines writers understand how terminology is interpreted by others and identify terms or points that require additional consideration to achieve plain language goals. Visit this page to learn more about the next steps in the process to develop the Dietary Guidelines.