Updated federal guidance blends continuity with a sharper edge
US officials released new dietary guidelines on Wednesday with familiar foundations and new priorities. The document reflects Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again agenda. It urges Americans to raise protein intake and choose healthy fats. It also calls for reducing ultraprocessed foods and added sugars.
Kennedy addressed reporters at the White House. He told Americans to eat real food. He framed the guidance as straightforward and practical.
The 2020 guidelines stretched close to 150 pages. They delivered detailed advice across every age group. The new version runs only a few pages. Federal agencies plan to back it with extensive scientific evidence.
A reversed pyramid redraws the American diet image
The update introduces a new food graphic. An inverted pyramid places meats, cheese, and vegetables at the top. The design reverses decades of familiar nutrition imagery. It also replaces the MyPlate circle.
Officials say the guidance can prevent chronic disease or slow its advance. Chronic illness sits at the heart of the MAHA movement. The document emphasizes more protein, less sugar, and fewer processed foods.
When adding fats, the guidance prioritizes oils with essential fatty acids. It highlights olive oil. It also lists butter and beef tallow as acceptable options.
Health groups welcome focus but flag risks
Some nutrition experts questioned the emphasis on red meat and dairy. Others praised the tough stance on processed foods.
The American Medical Association applauded the focus on ultraprocessed foods and sugary drinks. The group linked them to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. AMA President Dr. Bobby Mukkamala said the guidance treats food as medicine. He said patients and physicians can use it to improve health.
The American Heart Association welcomed the emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It supported limits on refined grains and added sugars. The group raised concerns about protein guidance.
The association warned about excess sodium and saturated fat intake. It urged caution with red meat and salt seasoning. It encouraged low-fat or fat-free dairy for heart health. It also called for more research on protein needs.
Federal nutrition programs prepare for change
The guidance shapes nutrition policy across the country. It affects school meals, WIC, and SNAP. Local health departments will review the updates closely.
Lori Tremmel Freeman leads county and city health officials. She said guidelines help people stay focused on healthy habits. She cited a persistent obesity epidemic. She said diet and exercise guidance helps prevent chronic disease.
What the new guidelines advise
Protein targets move higher
The 2025–30 guidelines recommend higher protein intake than before. The target depends on body weight. It ranges from 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram daily. A 150-pound adult would need 81.6 to 109 grams.
The guidance favors full-fat dairy without added sugars. It recommends three daily servings on a 2,000-calorie diet.
More fiber, fewer refined carbohydrates
The document urges two to four servings of fiber-rich whole grains daily. It calls for reducing refined carbohydrates. It names white bread, flour tortillas, and crackers.
The guidance recommends three vegetable servings and two fruit servings daily. It emphasizes whole foods in original form. It allows frozen, dried, or canned options with minimal added sugars.
Ultraprocessed foods receive pointed warnings. The guidance urges avoiding salty or sweet packaged foods. It names chips, cookies, and candy. It promotes nutrient-dense foods and home cooking. It advises careful choices when dining out.
Advice for infants and children
Infants should receive breast milk for six months. Iron-fortified formula offers an alternative. Breastfeeding may continue for two years or longer. Families should stop formula after 12 months.
The guidance urges avoiding added sugars through age ten.
Alcohol guidance stays restrained
The update repeats a familiar message. It urges less alcohol for better health. It removes earlier gender-based drink limits.
Dr. Mehmet Oz oversees Medicare and Medicaid. He said alcohol can support social bonding. He said avoiding alcohol remains healthiest. He advised limiting intake and avoiding daily use.
School lunch programs face real limits
Federal rules require schools to meet nutrition standards. The new guidance will influence school lunches. The School Nutrition Association raised concerns ahead of the release.
The group warned against strict limits on ultraprocessed foods. It said schools lack staff and infrastructure for scratch cooking. More than 93% cited staffing and equipment needs.
A recent report showed rising funding pressure. Seventy-nine percent reported extreme funding needs. Directors cited higher costs and labor shortages. The association urged Congress to increase funding.
Stephanie Dillard leads the association. She said school meals serve 30 million children daily. She urged investment in scratch cooking and fresh foods.
The USDA must translate guidance into meal standards. Schools will receive time to implement changes. Spokeswoman Diane Pratt-Heavner described that process.
Cost and access remain central questions
Kennedy said healthy food can become affordable. He said the administration plans education tools. Families could find healthy foods at low cost online.
He argued processed food only seems cheap. He said long-term health costs erase savings. He cited diabetes, obesity, and chronic illness burdens.
Experts stress nuance on food processing
Dr. David Seres teaches nutrition at Columbia University. He supports limiting ultraprocessed foods. He emphasized nuance in defining processing.
Seres said processing exists on a spectrum. He advised eating foods close to their natural state. He described foods from plants, animals, or the sea.
Dairy fat debate resurfaces again
Earlier guidelines favored low-fat dairy after age two. They capped saturated fat at ten percent of calories. The new guidance keeps that cap. It calls for more research on fat types.
Some studies link higher dairy intake to lower heart disease risk. Dietitian Bethany Doerfler commented by email. She said some dairy fats cause less inflammation. She warned about added calories from full-fat options.
Doerfler said plant-rich diets show protective effects. She cited lower risks for obesity, cancer, and heart disease. She stressed access to healthy food as essential.
Scientific and environmental concerns linger
Dr. Walter Willett teaches nutrition at Harvard. He warned against promoting high red meat and dairy intake. He said such diets harm health and the planet.
Willett criticized earlier reports for downplaying sugary drinks. He noted the new guidance discourages sugary beverages. It names sodas, fruit drinks, and energy drinks.
How federal diet advice keeps evolving
HHS and USDA update dietary guidelines every five years. They rely on evolving research. Clinicians and policymakers use them widely. Schools and SNAP programs depend on them.
Kennedy and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins urged states to restrict unhealthy foods. Retailers and experts questioned readiness. Evidence on benefits remains mixed.
Seres said guidelines shift as evidence strengthens. Observational studies guide early advice. Randomized trials later refine conclusions.
Advisory committees usually review evidence for years. They submit recommendations to agency leaders. Kennedy criticized that process. He promised shorter guidance centered on whole foods.
He also called earlier guidelines outdated. He urged Head Start programs to use full-fat dairy. A recent federal report promised advisory reforms.
Willett voiced serious concern about those reforms. He praised earlier committees for expertise and transparency. He warned against politicized reviews. He cited recent vaccine policy upheaval as a cautionary example.
