The new dietary guidelines released last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reaffirmed the role of meat in a healthy diet and say Americans should limit their salt, sugar and saturated fat intake.

The dietary guidelines noted that a healthy American diet should include a variety of vegetables; fruits, especially whole fruits; grains, at least half of which are whole grains; fat-free or low-fat dairy, including milk,...