Lawmakers disagree with the US government’s plan to categorise potatoes as grains
NEW DELHI: The most popular food item, the “potato,” will no longer be referred to as a vegetable. There has been debate among politicians in rural regions over the US government’s proposal to categorise it as a grain.
The senators from Maine and Colorado, Susan Collins and Michael Bennet, respectively, are spearheading the opposition to this measure, pointing out possible effects on agriculture.
The senators underlined potatoes’ historical designation as a vegetable and asked authorities to stick with this classification in a joint letter to the US departments of agriculture, health, and human services.
The two agencies collaborated to create the next Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030, which include recommendations to eliminate potatoes’ vegetable designation. This development has caused concern since Americans love potatoes—an average of 50 pounds is consumed annually by each person—mostly in frozen forms like fries. Only a tiny percentage of Americans consume the required amount of vegetables, according to 2019 government research. This has sparked debate about whether potatoes belong in this group because of their high carbohydrate content.
Although some experts say that potatoes shouldn’t be classified as vegetables since they may have an impact on blood sugar levels, 2013 National Library of Medicine research emphasised the nutritional benefits of potatoes. Senators Collins and Bennet highlighted the high nutritional content of potatoes, pointing out their fibre, potassium, calcium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6 benefits. They voiced worries that reclassifying potatoes would cause uncertainty for producers, merchants, and consumers—especially in areas where potato growing is a major industry.
The Maine Wire reports that 6,100 jobs are supported by potato cultivation in Maine alone, which generates $540 million in sales annually. The senators are arguing in favour of keeping potatoes classified as vegetables, citing their advantages in terms of nutrition and their economic significance to regional economies.
