USDA retracts support of ‘Meatless Monday’ after GOP revolt

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) retracted its endorsement of “Meatless Mondays” after GOP lawmakers blasted the move.

Republicans took to Twitter Wednesday to express their unhappiness with the USDA encouraging people to eat less meat.

I will eat more meat on Monday to compensate for stupid USDA recommendation abt a meatless Monday

— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) July 25, 2012

USDA HQ meatless Mondays!!! At the Dept. Of Agriculture? Heresy! I’m not grazing there. I will have double rib-eye Mondays instead.

— Steve King (@SteveKingIA) July 25, 2012

The USDA lauded Meatless Monday in Monday’s internal department newsletter as “one simple way to reduce your environmental impact while dining at our cafeterias.”

{mosads}The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and several members of Congress representing some of the biggest meat-producing states were quick to protest on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“I will eat more meat on Monday to compensate for stupid USDA recommendation abt a meatless Monday,” tweeted Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

Similarly, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) said he preferred “double rib-eye Mondays instead.”

“Who at USDA thought ‘Meatless Mondays’ was good idea? Anti-[agriculture] agenda at USDA is irresponsible, even for a day,” tweeted Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.).

But according to USDA, the department does not endorse “Meatless Monday” after all, at least not as an international campaign. The official USDA press account was doing damage control on Twitter late on Wednesday.

“USDA does not endorse Meatless Monday. Statement found on USDA website was posted w/o proper clearance. It has been removed,” the team tweeted Grassley.

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) responded: “Good!” He then joked in a follow-up tweet, “I should have said ‘well done!’ “

I should have said “well done!” RT @usdapress: USDA does not endorse Meatless Monday. Statement on USDA site posted w/o proper clearance.

— Pat Roberts (@SenPatRoberts) July 25, 2012