USDA to continue classifying potato as a vegetable, not a grain [Video]

The United States Department of Agriculture will keep the potato classified as a vegetable rather than a grain following a bipartisan effort from Maine’s congressional delegation to retain the potato’s current vegetable classification.

“The reclassification of potatoes would have sent a false message to the public that the USDA believes that potatoes are not healthy,” said Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, in a news release following the decision by the USDA. “The fact is, when prepared properly the potato is a wonderfully nutritious food that is affordable, easy to transport, has a long storage life and can be used in a wide array of recipes.”

The USDA is currently in the yearslong process of updating its dietary guidelines for Americans.

The dietary guidelines under review would be effective from 2025 to 2030.

In response to fears that the independent committee reviewing the dietary guidelines might move potatoes from the vegetable to the grain category, congressional leaders from around the country including Collins and the …