Glickman Announces New Web Site to Help Assess and Improve Diet
                                                               
                                           Release No.  0120.00
                                                               
                                                               
            Media Contact:  Mary Beth Schultheis (202) 720-4623
                                  mary_beth.schultheis@usda.gov
               Public Contact:  John S. Webster  (202) 418-2312
                                          john.webster@usda.gov

GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES NEW WEB SITE TO HELP ASSESS AND IMPROVE DIET

     WASHINGTON, April 13, 2000  -- Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
announced the release of the Interactive Healthy Eating Index, a new on-line
dietary assessment tool that provides a quick measure of a person's diet
quality.

     "Obesity in America is at almost epidemic proportions," Glickman said. 
"This user friendly web sit can help consumers carefully examine their own
dietary habits and receive encouragement to improve diets."   

     Designed for use by the general public and nutrition professionals, the
IHEI shows internet users how well they are meeting current dietary guidance. 
The index is based on 10 aspects of a healthy diet for persons 2 years of age
and older, as defined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and USDA's Food
Guide Pyramid. 

     Consumers can analyze their dietary status and maintain a cumulative
record so improvements in their diet can be observed.  Nutrition messages
targeted to the user's score provide helpful information on diet and health
with links to websites for those individuals with specific health concerns.

     "While not a substitute for advice from a nutrition or health
professional," said Shirley Watkins, Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and
Consumer Services, "the Interactive Healthy Eating Index is a first step
consumers can take to receive science based guidance on healthful diets."

     The IHEI is available at the following web address: www.usda.gov/cnpp/.
     
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