The USDA has two conflicting missions: (1) promote US agricultural products, and (2) advise the public about healthy food choices. This dual mandate results in

The USDA has two conflicting missions: (1) promote US agricultural products, and (2) advise the public about healthy food choices. This dual mandate results in significant food industry influence on the advice the USDA gives the public. Unsurprisingly, guidance about what foods are unhealthy has been softened or eliminated. Changing guidance on proteins and grains are heavily influenced by the economic interests of entrenched agricultural corporations. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8375951 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8375951