I’m sure a lot of people are trying to obtain information from USDA’S website right now. It’s going very s-l-o-w!

Here’s some information from their news release:

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2005 — Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today unveiled MyPyramid, a new symbol and interactive food guidance system. “Steps to a Healthier You,” MyPyramid’s central message, supports President Bush’s HealthierUS initiative which is designed to help Americans live longer, better and healthier lives. MyPyramid, which replaces the Food Guide Pyramid introduced in 1992, is part of an overall food guidance system that emphasizes the need for a more individualized approach to improving diet and lifestyle.

For more information contact Ed Loyd (202) 720-4623.

The release goes into extreme detail about this plan. I think it’s pretty complicated and I wonder how the average consumer out there will figure it out. For example, when you look at the MyPyramid image you’ll see bands of color that are supposed to signify different amounts of food types in your diet. Will you “get it” by looking at the image? Will consumers take the time to study this? Why should they?

What do you think of this idea? It’s a huge difference from the guidelines of the past and I think it’s an example of government trying to do too much. Why do we need the government using our tax dollars to tell us what we should or shouldn’t eat anyway?