East Idaho Times

A group of U.S. Senators, including Mike Crapo, Jim Risch, Susan Collins, and Michael Bennet, have taken a stand against the potential reclassification of potatoes as a grain instead of a vegetable during the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) process. In a letter addressed to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Thomas Vilsack and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, the Senators emphasized the importance of maintaining potatoes' status as vegetables.

Quoting a 2013 National Library of Medicine study, the Senators highlighted the nutritional value of potatoes, stating that "potatoes should be included in the vegetable group because they contribute critical nutrients." They pointed out that white potatoes, like other white vegetables, provide essential nutrients such as potassium, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and fiber.

The Senators emphasized the historical classification of potatoes as vegetables by the USDA, stating that "there is no debate about the physical characteristics of the potato and its horticultural scientific classification." They expressed concerns that any change in classification would cause confusion among consumers, retailers, restaurant operators, growers, and the entire supply chain.

In their letter, the Senators urged the USDA and DHHS to refrain from reclassifying potatoes as grains or suggesting interchangeability between grains and potatoes. They requested an update on the issue due to the rapid timeline of the DGAs process.

Joining Senators Crapo, Risch, Collins, and Bennet in sending the letter were several other Senators, including Kevin Cramer, Angus King, John Hickenlooper, Pete Ricketts, Steve Daines, Ron Wyden, Debbie Stabenow, John Hoeven, Jeffrey Merkley, and Maria Cantwell.

The full letter can be accessed for further details on the Senators' defense of potatoes as vegetables.