--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The USDA is not our ally here. We have to…" description: "\"The USDA is not our ally here. We have to take matters into our own hands, not only by advocating for a better diet for everyone - and that's the hard ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/mark-bittman-19157_advocating_the-usda-is-not-our-ally-here-we-have-to_1417982.jpg" --- # The USDA is not our ally here. We have to take matters… ![“The USDA is not our ally here. We have to take matters into our own hands, not only by advocating for a better diet for everyone - and that's the hard part - but by improving our own. And that happens to be quite easy. Less meat, less junk, more plants.” quote by Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/mark-bittman-19157_advocating_the-usda-is-not-our-ally-here-we-have-to_1417982.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/mark-bittman-19157_advocating_the-usda-is-not-our-ally-here-we-have-to_1417982.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/mark-bittman-19157_advocating_the-usda-is-not-our-ally-here-we-have-to_1417982.jpg) > “The USDA is not our ally here. We have to take matters into our own hands, not only by advocating for a better diet for everyone - and that's the hard part - but by improving our own. And that happens to be quite easy. Less meat, less junk, more plants.” [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individual dietary choices can drive health and environmental improvements, despite institutional shortcomings. **In simple terms:** People can improve health by eating more plants. Key Takeaway Eat more plants, reduce meat. Themes nutrition environment personal responsibility Mood motivational pragmatic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - home cooking - grocery shopping - meal planning - community workshops Key Concepts sustainability dietary change public health Questions to Reflect On - How can you make plant‑based meals appealing? - What barriers stop you from reducing meat? A Different Perspective Changing habits may be socially difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allies/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Usda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usda/) ## Related quotes > [Childhood obesity is best tackled at home through improved parental involvement, increased physical exercise, better diet and restraint from eating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-filner/childhood-obesity-is-best-tackled-at-home-through-improved-parental/) [Bob Filner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-filner/) > [I had one of my best years in 1991; I was 31. I made a renewed effort to work harder. I got better at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/i-had-one-of-my-best-years-in-1991-i-was-31-i-made-a-renewed-effort/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I think that as a government agency, USDA has a responsibility to reduce the levels of contamination and to mandate a stringent approach to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/i-think-that-as-a-government-agency-usda-has-a-responsibility-to/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [“USDA regulations spell out precisely what sort of facility and system is permissible, but they don’t set thresholds for food-borne pathogens. (That would require…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/usda-regulations-spell-out-precisely-what-sort-of-facility-and-system/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Never in my life would I have expected USDA to be opposed to farmers and ranchers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-moran/never-in-my-life-would-i-have-expected-usda-to-be-opposed-to-farmers/) [Jerry Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-moran/) > [USDA is committed to keeping pace with the needs and progress of American agriculture by supporting new markets and movements that will keep farmers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/usda-is-committed-to-keeping-pace-with-the-needs-and-progress-of/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [ “A nationwide study published by the USDA in 1996 found that \[...\] 78.6 percent of the ground beef contained microbes that are spread primarily… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/a-nationwide-study-published-by-the-usda-in-1996-found-that-78-6/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [Over the past two years, the Obama Administration and USDA have worked to build a foundation for sustainable economic growth in rural America. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/over-the-past-two-years-the-obama-administration-and-usda-have-worked/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [One USDA scientist went so far as to claim that there has never been a documented case of food-borne illness from eating fermented vegetables.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/one-usda-scientist-went-so-far-as-to-claim-that-there-has-never-been/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [To amplify our efforts, USDA is joining with First Lady Michelle Obama in aggressively promoting the 'Let's Move' campaign, which will combat the epidemic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/to-amplify-our-efforts-usda-is-joining-with-first-lady-michelle-obama/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [“The popular media and conventional wisdom, including the medical profession's traditional approach to nutrition, have created and continue to perpetuate this problem through inadequate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-hoggan/the-popular-media-and-conventional-wisdom-including-the-medical/) Ron Hoggan > [The USDA is tasked with managing and promoting agriculture - including the well-funded animal agriculture industry - so it's pulled into a tug-of-war every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-greger/the-usda-is-tasked-with-managing-and-promoting-agriculture-including/) [Michael Greger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-greger/) > [To help producers serve larger institutional customers like schools and hospitals, USDA has helped fund new regional infrastructure like cold storage warehouses, commercial kitchens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/to-help-producers-serve-larger-institutional-customers-like-schools/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [There are some farmers who have been terribly discriminated against by the USDA. They've suffered tremendous losses and pain and anguish, and they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/there-are-some-farmers-who-have-been-terribly-discriminated-against/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [Floods, droughts, and natural disasters are a fact of life for farmers, ranchers, and foresters. They have persevered in the past, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-perdue/floods-droughts-and-natural-disasters-are-a-fact-of-life-for-farmers/) [Sonny Perdue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-perdue/) ## More by Mark Bittman > [I live full-time in the world of omnivores, and I've never wanted to leave. But the Standard American Diet (yes, it's SAD) got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/i-live-full-time-in-the-world-of-omnivores-and-i-ve-never-wanted-to/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [Anyone can cook, and most everyone should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/anyone-can-cook-and-most-everyone-should/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [Junk food companies are acting very much like tobacco companies did 30 years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/junk-food-companies-are-acting-very-much-like-tobacco-companies-did/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [“All across Italy, as Parasecoli tells me, food is used to identify who is Italian and who is not. But dig a little deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/all-across-italy-as-parasecoli-tells-me-food-is-used-to-identify-who/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [People need help to change the way they eat... this is what government is for in my opinion… We should make food an issue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/people-need-help-to-change-the-way-they-eat-this-is-what-government/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [If price spikes don't change eating habits, perhaps the combination of deforestation, pollution, climate change, starvation, heart disease and animal cruelty will gradually encourage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/if-price-spikes-don-t-change-eating-habits-perhaps-the-combination-of/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [50-100 years from now we are all going to be eating a plant based diet. Whether that happens through a catastrophe or a peaceful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/50-100-years-from-now-we-are-all-going-to-be-eating-a-plant-based/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [We need to demonise soda, the way we've demonised cigarettes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/we-need-to-demonise-soda-the-way-we-ve-demonised-cigarettes/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [The truly healthy alternative to that chip is not a fake chip; it’s a carrot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/the-truly-healthy-alternative-to-that-chip-is-not-a-fake-chip-it-s-a/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [Thanks to farm subsidies, the fine collaboration between agribusiness and Congress, soy, corn and cattle became king. And chicken soon joined them on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/thanks-to-farm-subsidies-the-fine-collaboration-between-agribusiness/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [If you embrace moderation, eat whole foods instead of junk, live within your physical, monetary, and environmental budget rather than constantly exceeding it, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/if-you-embrace-moderation-eat-whole-foods-instead-of-junk-live-within/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [If you're a progressive, if you're driving a Prius, or you're shopping green or you're looking for organic, you should probably be a semi-vegetarian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/if-you-re-a-progressive-if-you-re-driving-a-prius-or-you-re-shopping/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [I got into cooking out of self-defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/i-got-into-cooking-out-of-self-defense/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [ “\[C\]onvenience is one of the two dirty words of American cooking, reflecting the part of our national character that is easily bored; the other… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/c-onvenience-is-one-of-the-two-dirty-words-of-american-cooking/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [It's good to have a short memory because it keeps life fresh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/it-s-good-to-have-a-short-memory-because-it-keeps-life-fresh/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) [Explore all 33 Mark Bittman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) ## More Advocating quotes > [As an American I am of course fundamentally opposed to democracy and to anyone advocating or defending democracy, which in theory and practice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-wilder-lane/as-an-american-i-am-of-course-fundamentally-opposed-to-democracy-and/) [Rose Wilder Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-wilder-lane/) > [I am not a terrorist, but neither am I a pacifist. I am simply a regular guy from the Palestinian street advocating only what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marwan-barghouti/i-am-not-a-terrorist-but-neither-am-i-a-pacifist-i-am-simply-a/) Marwan Barghouti > [I am not advocating doing nothing. I am advocating for you to energetically, actively and vigilantly monitor how you are BEING.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-strong/i-am-not-advocating-doing-nothing-i-am-advocating-for-you-to/) [Brenda Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-strong/) > [We did 'Jack & Bobby' in the middle of the Kerry/Bush election. It hurt it a little bit. No matter what we did, everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/we-did-jack-bobby-in-the-middle-of-the-kerry-bush-election-it-hurt-it/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [I'd like to see more crossover between white and black music. That's something I've been advocating for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hall/i-d-like-to-see-more-crossover-between-white-and-black-music-that-s/) [Daryl Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hall/) > [Every company can use someone advocating loudly for the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/every-company-can-use-someone-advocating-loudly-for-the-customer/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [If we were living in ancient Rome or Greece, I would be considered sickly and unattractive. The times dictate that thin is better for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/if-we-were-living-in-ancient-rome-or-greece-i-would-be-considered/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [Are the great spiritual teachings really advocating that we fight evil because we are on the side of light, the side of peace? Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/are-the-great-spiritual-teachings-really-advocating-that-we-fight/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [I think Hamas should be challenged to consider really embracing Gandhi and Dr. Kings philosophy of advocating nonviolence as a way to achieve self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/i-think-hamas-should-be-challenged-to-consider-really-embracing/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Whatever I believe here and whatever you think I'm advocating, it's not because I care what happens to the Republican Party. I care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/whatever-i-believe-here-and-whatever-you-think-i-m-advocating-it-s/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The press has bravely and nobly eroded the public trust... What I'm advocating is the media come work for us again. Remove themselves from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/the-press-has-bravely-and-nobly-eroded-the-public-trust-what-i-m/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I knew about some experience on the operational part of the CIA with Latin American services and so forth having to do with torture.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/i-knew-about-some-experience-on-the-operational-part-of-the-cia-with/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [If I was courting the Muslim vote, I wouldn't have put establishing the partnership ceremony at the forefront of my first term, would I?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/if-i-was-courting-the-muslim-vote-i-wouldn-t-have-put-establishing/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [Freedom is living without government coercion. So when a politician talks about freedom for this group or that, ask yourself whether he is advocating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/freedom-is-living-without-government-coercion-so-when-a-politician/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Zbigniew Brzezinski, who was really one of the - whose name is impossible to pronounce - who was really one of the architects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/zbigniew-brzezinski-who-was-really-one-of-the-whose-name-is/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) Browse all 194 Advocating quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The USDA is not our ally here. We have to take matters into our own hands, not only by advocating for a better diet for everyone - and that's the hard part - but by improving our own. And that happens to be quite easy. 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