Press Release: Rep. Simpson: Protect Potatoes’ Place on Your Plate

The following press release was sent out by the office of Congressman Mike Simpson. Press releases do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of those at the Idaho Dispatch.

WASHINGTON— This week, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson led a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) opposing any efforts to reclassify potatoes as a non-vegetable in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). Rep. Simpson and Rep. Pingree (D-ME) led the effort and were joined by 27 Members of Congress.

“Any effort to reclassify the potato would be misguided,” said Rep. Simpson. “Packed with essential nutrients like potassium, calcium, fiber, and vitamins, potatoes are a dinner table staple in households across America. As the co-chair of the Congressional Potato Caucus, I strongly oppose any reclassification, and I am proud to stand up against this effort.”

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Simpson, Pingree, and the Members called attention to a 2013 National Library of Medicine Study, which found that “potatoes should be included in the vegetable group because they contribute critical nutrients,” and “All white vegetables, including white potatoes, provide nutrients needed in the diet and deserve a prominent position in food guides.”

“Since the inception of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), it has classified potatoes correctly as a vegetable. There is no debate about the physical characteristics of the potato and its horticultural scientific classification,” the Members wrote.

The full letter is available here and below.

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Dear Secretary Vilsack and Secretary Becerra:

We write regarding recent press reports concerning the development process of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) (2025-2030), specifically the possible reclassification of potatoes as a grain, instead of a vegetable. Given the lack of a scientific justification behind the assertion that potatoes are not vegetables, and the documented nutritional benefits of potatoes, we strongly oppose any reclassification of potatoes to the grain category under the DGAs.

Since the inception of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), it has classified potatoes correctly as a vegetable. There is no debate about the physical characteristics of the potato and its horticultural scientific classification. Unlike grains, white potatoes are strong contributors of potassium, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and fiber. A medium baked potato contains 15 percent of the daily recommended value of dietary fiber, 27 percent of the daily recommended value for vitamin B6, and 28 percent of the daily recommended value of vitamin C. In fact, potatoes have more potassium than bananas, a food that is commonly associated with being high in potassium.

Given the nutritional value of potatoes, consumers would be missing out on key nutrients if a reclassification effort, or even a suggestion that grains and potatoes are similar and thus interchangeable, moves forward through the DGAs process. In addition, any change to potatoes’ current classification under the DGAs would immediately confuse consumers, retailers, restaurant operators, growers and indeed the entire supply chain. That is one of the reasons that the trade groups of both sides of this classification debate—the National Potato Council and the Grain Chain—have filed comments in opposition to potatoes being defined as anything other than a vegetable. In addition, our federal nutrition programs rely on the DGAs to ensure that program beneficiaries are receiving well-balanced, nutritious food. Such a change could also come at a cost to our nation’s schools, as under the National School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs, schools already struggle to meet vegetable consumption recommendations at a reasonable cost, and potatoes are often the most affordable vegetable.

Finally, classifying potatoes as a grain instead of a vegetable would also go against a 2013 National Library of Medicine Study titled White Potatoes, Human Health, and Dietary Guidance. This study found that… potatoes should be included in the vegetable group because they contribute critical nutrients. All white vegetables, including white potatoes, provide nutrients needed in the diet and deserve a prominent position in food guides.

Reclassifying potatoes as a grain would defy the scientific assertion made by the National Library of Medicine study.

We strongly urge you to avoid reclassifying potatoes as a grain or allowing substitution between potatoes and grains, as this action would call the scientific credibility of the entire process into question. Given the rapid timeline that the DGAs are on, we ask that you provide us an update on this issue as soon as possible.

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