WASHINGTON —An expert committee has recommended that Americans eat more plant-based food, including fruits and vegetables. The Produce Marketing Association hailed the advice — as this report serves as a foundation for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015, which is due out later this year. In addition to the health benefits, the report stated that plant-based food is more environmentally sustainable than animal-based food.

Fourteen experts on the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee held seven public meetings over the last two years to develop recommendations for the federal agencies.

“Now that the advisory committee has completed its recommendations, HHS and USDA will review this advisory report, along with comments from the public — including other experts — and input from other federal agencies as we begin the process of updating the guidelines," said Health & Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a joint statement.

PMA pointed to key findings in the report that fruits and vegetables play an integral role in a healthy diet but are still not being consumed enough.

“Notably, the committee found that the consumption of fruits has remained low, but stable, for the U.S. population,” said PMA President Cathy Burns. “Vegetable intake has declined, particularly among children and adolescents. Findings like this reinforce the need for marketing initiatives that make a connection to our healthy foods for young consumers – like the eat brighter! movement.”

Burns said PMA will be submitting comments that support the commitment to “fresh, affordable and nutritious options that are available to consumers of all demographics.”

Soon after it was released Thursday, the report was criticized by the meat industry for its move away from recommending lean meat dishes.

“We appreciate the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s recognition of the important role that lean meat can play in a healthy balanced diet, but lean meat’s relegation to a footnote ignores the countless studies and data that the committee reviewed for the last two years that showed unequivocally that meat and poultry are among the most nutrient-dense foods available,” said North American Meat Institute President and CEO Barry Carpenter.

A consumer advocate, however, praised the committee for its latest recommendations.

“The committee has boldly stated that a sustainable diet, higher in plant-based foods and lower in animal-based foods, is better for both our health and the planet than the current American diet,” said Michael Jacobson, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. “The DGAC has always urged greater consumption of fruits and vegetables, but the recommendation to eat less red and processed meat deserves to be in the final Dietary Guidelines for Americans — and not excised at the behest of the meat industry.”

Others criticized the report for delving into the issue of sustainability as part of its nutrition guidelines.

The public will get a chance to comment on the report at a March 24 meeting and forward comments to the agencies by April 8.