Beef Checkoff Human Nutrition Research Program We in the beef industry are committed to nutrition research.  That commitment has become the platform for all nutrition education materials and the focus of the human nutrition research program.  The Human Nutrition Research program studies how beef fits in a healthy diet through investigating its role in weight management, optimal body composition and metabolism; the natural nutrients and lipids found in beef; and beef’s positive contribution to diets consistent with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  Additional information on the Human Nutrition Research Program can be found here.    Besides funding human research, our research program seeks to expand the scientific community's knowledge about nutrition, and to extend that knowledge as widely as possible.  As outlined in our, Statement of PrinciplesRegarding Nutrition and Health, we are focused on communicating accurate information about beef’s nutritional qualities and the role of beef in a healthful diet.  That includes providing factual, scientifically supported information about beef and supporting recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid, that a balanced diet, variety and moderation, coupled with appropriate physical activity provides the foundation for a healthful life.  Copies of our fact sheets are located below.  Extension of Nutrition Research Findings Fact Sheets Lean Beef and Heart Health (PDF) Stearic Acid - A Unique Saturated Fat (PDF) Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Dietary Beef - An Update (PDF) Beef Lipids in Perspective (PDF)     More Information Contact us for additional information. This nutrition research program is funded by the Beef Checkoff Program.  The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval. Producer-directed and consumer-focused, the NCBA is a trade association of America’s cattle farmers and ranchers, and the marketing organization for the largest segment of the nation’s food and fiber industry.