You say potato, these senators say vegetable

A group of senators want to make sure you can still call potatoes vegetables.

Fourteen members of Congress, including Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, have issued an open letter requesting that potatoes not be reclassified as grains from their current veggie status, a change reportedly being considered by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, or DGAs.

“If potatoes were to be reclassified, consumers would miss out on vital nutrients,” the letter reads. “In
addition, any change to potatoes’ current classification under the DGAs would immediately confuse consumers, retailers, restaurant operators, growers, and the entire supply chain.”

Sadly, the letter doesn’t include any quotes from Samwise Gamgee, who will tell you that potatoes are great to boil, mash and stick in a stew.