09/18/07 Beef, dairy unite to promote nutrition

Dairy and beef producers are using some of their respective checkoff dollars to promote the nutrition message to consumers. The CEO of DMI, Dairy Management Inc is Tom Gallagher who says there's a lot at stake for beef and dairy farmers. GALLAGHER "The work that the staff have done in the last couple of years together on forming a nutrient rich coalition with other food companies, scientists and the government this was a great opportunity to bring all that work together." Gallagher says science is the foundation of their nutrition effort and scientists with several scientists now working with the two industries. GALLAGHER "To create a nutrient rich system that helps guide consumers." The dairy and beef industries have joint studies, they have individual projects but all with the same goal in mind. GALLAGHER "Sometimes there will be joint research and other times there will be specific pieces of protein or fat research that needs to be segmented because of the different properties in each product. But we are in one coalition working on analyzing the nutrients within all foods and determining a food system that fits all foods." Gallagher says both industries will be ready when the government takes a look at dietary guidelines in 2010. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott