"Cut Ultra-Processed Foods, Emphasize Red Meat and Dairy"... Mixed Reactions to New U.S. Dietary Guidelines

Health Secretary: "Eat Real Food"
Emphasis on Animal Protein and Saturated Fats

The Donald Trump administration has introduced new dietary guidelines recommending Americans avoid ultra-processed foods containing added sugars, while encouraging the consumption of red meat and full-fat dairy products.

Robert Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

According to the Associated Press and other sources on January 7 (local time), Robert Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture, announced the "2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans" on this day. Updated every five years, these guidelines align with Secretary Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again (MAHA)" initiative. At a White House briefing, Kennedy stated, "The message is clear: eat real food," adding, "The new guidelines will revolutionize our food culture and make Americans healthier."

This marks a significant departure from the previous "MyPlate" guidelines, which depicted a plate divided into nearly equal portions of grains, vegetables, protein, and fruit, with a small serving of dairy. Instead, the new guidelines present an inverted pyramid chart, placing red meat, cheese, vegetables, and fruit at the top, while whole grains are positioned at the bottom and are comparatively less emphasized. Kennedy explained, "Protein and healthy fats are essential nutrients, and previous guidelines mistakenly failed to encourage their consumption. We are ending the war on saturated fats."

The new guidelines emphasize protein intake at every meal, recommending a daily intake of 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. They also note that salt, spices, and herbs can be added to protein according to personal preference. This is up to twice the previously recommended daily protein intake of 0.8 grams. Unlike earlier guidelines that limited saturated fat by recommending low-fat or non-fat dairy, the new guidelines highlight the importance of full-fat dairy products. They also stress the need to dramatically reduce consumption of ultra-processed foods containing refined carbohydrates, added sugars, excessive sodium, unhealthy fats, and chemical additives.

Experts have expressed mixed reactions. While the message to reduce sugar and processed foods has been welcomed, the emphasis on red meat and high-fat dairy has raised concerns. Marion Nestle, Professor Emerita of Nutrition at New York University, described the guidelines as "overall confusing and contradictory," calling them "ideological and very retrograde." However, she fully supported the strong recommendation to limit processed food consumption, calling it "very powerful advice."

Christopher Gardner, a former member of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC), said he was "very disappointed" with the new food pyramid, which places red meat and saturated fat at the top as if they should be prioritized, stating that "this runs directly counter to decades of accumulated evidence and research." The American Heart Association (AHA) also issued a statement praising the recommendation to consume fresh foods and limit added sugars and processed foods, but expressed concern that increased use of salt and consumption of red meat could lead to excessive intake of sodium and saturated fats.