USA RICE FEDERATION NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 24, 2004
Contact:  Patricia Alderson, (703) 236-1472, talderson@usarice.com

RICE INDUSTRY URGES USDA TO KEEP ENRICHED GRAINS AT BASE OF CURRENT FOOD
GUIDE PYRAMID
USA Rice Federation Testimony Aimed at Influencing Food Policy Deliberations

WASHINGTON - USDA should keep grains including enriched rice at the base of
the Food Guide Pyramid, and should retain the current well-known pyramid
graphic in its new Food Guidance System, USA Rice Federation testified at a
public meeting in Washington, D.C.  The meeting was called by USDA to hear
comments on proposed revisions to the government's visual symbol for dietary
guidance.

"Since 80 percent of Americans recognize the current pyramid, USDA should
keep the present graphic and focus instead on helping consumers learn how to
make better use of the recommendations in their daily diets. In addition,
the pyramid shape accurately depicts the dietary intake patterns and
messages of variety, proportion, and moderation recommended by the Dietary
Guidelines and should be maintained," the industry testified. Current
guidelines call for 45 percent to 65 percent of daily calories to come from
carbohydrates, including grains, fruits and vegetables.

Other points delivered by USA Rice included:

  While the industry supports the goal of increasing whole
grain consumption, enriched grains, which are a key source of the B vitamins
including folate, play a major role in healthy eating and disease prevention
and should continue to be emphasized.  Studies by the Centers for Disease
Control have shown a link between folate and a decrease in birth defects and
reduction in risk factors for heart disease.

  The rice industry strongly disagrees with an apparent bias
by a scientific committee reviewing the Dietary Guidelines against any grain
foods except whole grains, and expressed concern that the dramatic decline
in birth defects could be lost if folate-enriched grains are no longer
recommended.

  Enriched and whole grains should be depicted together in the
grain category.  Separating enriched from whole grains in a new graphic
would be confusing to consumers and could imply that enriched grains are not
recommended.

"Providing testimony at USDA's meeting reflects the increased emphasis USA
Rice has placed on involvement in food policy activities during the past
year," said Charles Trahan of Crowley, La., chairman of the Federation's
Domestic Promotion Committee.  "We are actively bringing forward important
information to the government in order to influence decisions about new
dietary guidance because of the potential impact on rice consumption," he
said.

USDA will test various graphic images and messages with consumers in focus
groups this fall.  A new Food Guidance System incorporating revised Dietary
Guidelines and containing the graphic will be made public early in 2005.

USA Rice Federation is the national advocate for all segments of the rice
industry, conducting activities to influence government programs, developing
and initiating programs to increase worldwide demand for U.S. rice, and
providing other services to increase profitability for all industry
segments.

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