Lawmakers Concerned About Possible Reclassification of Potatoes as a Grain

BISMARCK - While potatoes have been classified as a vegetable since the inception of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), recent media reports speculate the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (Dietary Guidelines) could recategorize them as a grain. The Dietary Guidelines, published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the USDA every five years, provides food-based recommendations to update nutrition standards.

In a letter to USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to express opposition to the notion of reclassifying potatoes as a grain. The lawmakers said if potatoes were to be recategorized, consumers would miss out on vital nutrients and any change to potatoes' current classification under the Dietary Guidelines would immediately confuse consumers, retailers, restaurant operators, growers, and the entire supply chain.

"That is one of the reasons that the trade groups of both sides of this classification debate have filed comments in opposition to potatoes being defined as anything other than a vegetable," the senators wrote."In addition, our federal nutrition programs rely on the DGAs to ensure that program beneficiaries are receiving well-balanced, nutritious food. Such a change could also come at a cost to our nation's schools. Under the National School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs, schools already struggle to meet vegetable consumption recommendations at a reasonable cost, and potatoes are often the most affordable vegetable."

The senators argued classifying potatoes as a grain would go against a 2013 National Library of Medicine Study which states, "potatoes should be included in the vegetable group because they contribute critical nutrients. All white vegetables, including white potatoes, provide nutrients needed in the diet and deserve a prominent position in food guides."

"Given this strong, fact-backed assertion produced from the National Library of Medicine study, it does not make any sense for your departments to reclassify potatoes as a grain,"the senators concluded."We strongly urge you to avoid reclassifying potatoes as a grain or suggest grains and potatoes are interchangeable. Given the rapid timeline that the DGAs are on, we ask that you provide us an update on this issue as soon as possible."

Click here for the letter.