Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs

Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs. It was a special committee of the United States Senate that operated from 1968 to 1977. Established by Senator George McGovern, the committee played a pivotal role in elevating national awareness of hunger and malnutrition in America. Its most enduring legacy was the publication of the landmark *Dietary Goals for the United States*, which fundamentally shaped federal nutrition policy and public health guidelines.

History and establishment

The committee was established in July 1968 following growing public concern over issues of hunger and poverty highlighted by events like the Poor People's Campaign and investigations such as the Field Foundation's report "Hunger, U.S.A." Its creation was championed by Senator George McGovern of South Dakota, who became its first chairman, with Senator Jacob Javits of New York serving as vice chairman. The impetus for its formation stemmed from testimony before the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare and the work of activists like Robert F. Kennedy, who had documented severe poverty in regions like the Mississippi Delta. The 91st United States Congress authorized the committee to study the problems of hunger and malnutrition within the United States.

Key hearings and investigations

The committee held extensive hearings across the nation, investigating the extent of hunger and the effectiveness of federal food programs. Early hearings, such as those in Columbia, South Carolina and Los Angeles, revealed widespread nutritional deficiencies among poor Americans, particularly children and the elderly. It scrutinized the operations of the Food Stamp Program, the National School Lunch Program, and the WIC program. Notable witnesses included physicians like Dr. Robert Coles, community activists, and officials from the United States Department of Agriculture. These investigations provided critical evidence that led to major expansions of federal food assistance under the administrations of Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon.

Dietary Goals for the United States

In 1977, under the continued leadership of Chairman McGovern, the committee released its most influential publication, *Dietary Goals for the United States*. This report, developed with guidance from nutritionists like Dr. D. Mark Hegsted, marked a dramatic shift in public health advice by explicitly linking diet to chronic diseases. It recommended Americans increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while decreasing intake of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sugar, and salt. The recommendations faced significant opposition from the meat industry, dairy industry, and segments of the American Medical Association. Despite controversy, the report laid the direct groundwork for subsequent federal publications, most notably the Dietary Guidelines for Americans first issued in 1980 by the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Impact and legacy

The committee's impact on American public health and policy was profound. Its work was instrumental in the expansion and institutionalization of the Food Stamp Program and the creation of the School Breakfast Program. The *Dietary Goals* report fundamentally changed the national conversation on nutrition, shifting focus from nutrient deficiency to the prevention of diseases like coronary heart disease and diabetes. This scientific pivot influenced countless subsequent studies by institutions like the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association. The committee's findings also bolstered the consumer nutrition labeling movement, which eventually led to the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990.

Dissolution and successor bodies

The Select Committee was dissolved in 1977 following a reorganization of the United States Senate committee system. Its nutrition oversight functions and legislative jurisdiction were formally transferred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, where George McGovern continued to serve as a member. Key staff from the select committee, such as staff director Marshall Matz, moved to the agriculture committee to continue their work. The committee's legacy endures through the ongoing publication of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the structure of modern federal food assistance, and the permanent integration of nutrition science into federal health policy.

Category:Defunct United States Senate committees Category:History of nutrition Category:United States federal nutrition programs Category:George McGovern