Still the goal

WASHINGTON, DC -- Last week, USA Rice and members of the Grain Chain submitted a letter to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) strongly urging the continuance of the current recommendation that Americans consume six servings of grains daily, with at least half as whole grains. The DGAC is composed of nationally recognized health and nutrition experts and makes recommendations to the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services as those agencies form our nation's nutrition policies.

USA Rice and the Grain Chain say the current recommendation's goal is still valid for the 2015 Dietary Guidelines since Americans have yet to achieve the current whole grains recommendation. The Grain Chain also advocated for continued recognition of the valuable role of enriched grains in a healthy diet, a key component of which is fortification with folic acid.  

"Earlier this year, USA Rice submitted new nutrition research to the DGAC confirming the role of rice in a healthy diet," said Katie Maher, USA Rice domestic promotion manager. "But this year's DGAC is looking beyond nutrition to sustainability, and the U.S. rice industry is in a unique position because rice has a great story to tell in both areas."

Maher says not only is rice nutritious and part of a healthy diet, but over the past twenty years, American rice farmers have substantially increased yields while reducing inputs such as land, energy, and water use - without the use of genetic modification.

Together with the Grain Chain, USA Rice provided information about U.S. rice industry sustainability as measured in the 2010 Rice Foundation study and 2012 Field to Market study, as well as several conservation studies showing that rice farming has a unique relationship to wetlands and wildlife habitat.

Last month, the Grain Chain held meetings with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S.  

Department of Health and Human Services to discuss the grain industry's unified position to maintain the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendation for grains and to raise the visibility of the Grain Chain and its members with key policy makers.

USA Rice will continue to work through the Grain Chain coalition, and independently, to monitor and support whole grain and enriched white rice in the development of the 2015 DGA. The DGA, which serves as our national nutrition policy, is updated every five years to reflect the latest scientific nutrition findings.  

Contact:  Katie Maher, (703) 236-1453 

Come and get it!

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- USA Rice has begun a promotion campaign with Sanborns, one of the largest restaurant chains and most recognizable brands in Mexico. The promotion, dubbed "Wednesday Paella", is being conducted at all 198 Sanborns restaurants nationwide that serve more than 2 million customers per month and use one ton of U.S. rice each day.  In-restaurant displays urge customers to make Wednesday "Paella Wednesday" and promote the fact that U.S.-grown rice is used. The promotions, which started in May, will continue throughout the year.  

"These activities will help us promote U.S. rice to new and varied audiences," says Brian King, USA Rice's Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Promotion subcommittee.  "By partnering with a renowned restaurant chain in Mexico, we are able to encourage greater consumption of U.S. rice."

Meet me at Sanborns...for paella!

Sanborns is a chain of department stores, restaurants, and coffee shops in Mexico, founded in 1903 and with a rich history. Its most famous location, and flagship store, is in Mexico City, the 16th century House of Tiles, or "Casa de los Azulejos", which is a major Mexico City tourist attraction and national monument. Sanborns exclusively purchases U.S. rice from IPACPA and Schettino, the largest millers/packers in Mexico. 

Contact:  Sarah Moran, (703) 236-1457 

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