USDA Replaces Food Pyramid With New Icon
May 31, 2011 
First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled the federal government’s new food icon, MyPlate, to serve as a reminder to help consumers make healthier food choices. MyPlate is a new generation icon with the intent to prompt consumers to think about building a healthy plate at meal times and to seek more information to help them do that by going to www.ChooseMyPlate.gov. The new MyPlate icon emphasizes the fruit, vegetable, grains, protein and dairy food groups. Nutrition, health and consumer advocates applauded the MyPlate icon and reiterated their commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Americans nationwide.
“The new dietary guidance icon will be a tipping point in how Americans literally visualize what they should eat,” said Tom Stenzel, president and CEO, United Fresh Produce Association. “The message to ‘make half your plate fruits and vegetables’ is simple, compelling and effective. It is a breakthrough message that consumers can practice every day at every meal. The produce industry is firmly committed to working closely with USDA and others to support the new dietary guidance and help promote ‘make half your plate fruits and vegetables’ as part of a lifetime of healthy eating.”
