Livestock Producers are said to be some of the best environmental stewards of the land, but proposed changes to the Canadian Food Guide may have consumers thinking otherwise.

Not only are livestock producers concerned about recommendations to eat more plant-based proteins, they are also concerned with a new environmental component being proposed.

Issues Manager with the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, Tom Lynch-Staunton, says there's a thought in one of the guiding principles looking into environmental impacts and sustainable diets.

"The fear on that piece, is the livestock and meat industry will be targeted unfairly based on a small set of metrics when the issue is so complex. That would be an issue that we would say fits better in the Food Policy Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is looking at, rather than into a health program."

Lynch- Staunton says, this new part of the Food Guide may confuse consumers into making choices based on their own perspective of environmental impacts.

The reality is, there's land where you can't grow crops or vegetables, and raising cattle on the land is the best option for the environment.

The second public consultation for the new Canadian Food Guide came to a close Monday, August 14.

Even thought public consultation has closed, Lynch-Staunton says if you have concerns, express them through a letter to Health Canada.