Why did Sweden create the world's first food pyramid in 1974?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

USDA Food Guide Pyramid — food pyramid The original U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Guide Pyramid, introduced in 1992, recommended a liberal daily intake of grain products (represented by the wide base of the pyramid) and a sparing intake of fats, oils, and sugary foods (represented by its tip).

The food pyramid originated in Sweden in the 1970s, not as a dietary recommendation, but as a response to rising food costs. Anna-Britt Agnsäter, an educator for a Swedish grocery cooperative, designed the first food pyramid, which was published in 1974. This pyramid was divided into three levels, with the widest section at the bottom representing foods like grains, legumes, potatoes, and milk, indicating they should be consumed in larger quantities than those at the top. Other Nordic countries soon adopted similar food pyramids. The U.S. Department of Agriculture later adapted this concept in 1992 to create its own Food Guide Pyramid.12