Federal Nutrition Guidelines Promote Whole Foods and Caution Against Highly Processed Products

The administration recently unveiled the 2025-2030 iteration of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued jointly by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. The new guidance reinforces the importance of consuming whole foods — such as fresh vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, and quality proteins — while advising Americans to avoid highly processed foods and added sugars. This federal advice underpins nutrition-related policies and programs nationwide and arrives amid Kennedy's ongoing efforts to overhaul the nation's food supply under the Make America Healthy Again campaign. To visually represent these recommendations, officials introduced an updated graphic that departs from the traditional food pyramid. The design positions protein, dairy, healthy fats, and fruits and vegetables at the apex, with whole grains at the base, emphasizing the priority of these groups within a balanced diet. A key focus of this edition is a distinct stance against "highly processed" foods — defined here as packaged, prepared, or ready-to-eat items that tend to be salty or sweet, like chips, cookies, and candy. These ultraprocessed products account for over half of the calories consumed in the United States and have been implicated in chronic conditions including diabetes and obesity. Despite signals from Health Secretary Kennedy and Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary about reconsidering advice on saturated fats, the guidelines maintain a recommendation to cap saturated fat intake at no more than 10% of daily calories. The document encourages selecting whole-food sources of saturated fats, such as meat, whole-fat dairy, and avocados. It also permits options like butter or beef tallow, marking a subtle shift from previous cautionary guidance against these fats. Legally mandated to be revised every five years, the dietary guidelines have long provided a standard for healthy eating. However, evidence shows many Americans do not fully adhere to these recommendations despite the high prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases. Experts have lauded the new guidelines for placing clear emphasis on increasing whole foods and decreasing consumption of highly processed carbohydrates, noting this marks progress in public health messaging. The succinct 10-page document contrasts with prior editions that have grown significantly in length over the decades. This brevity aligns with Kennedy's commitment to simplicity and clarity in communicating dietary advice. The implications of these guidelines are particularly significant for federally supported nutrition programs, such as the National School Lunch Program, which serves nearly 30 million children daily and is required to align meal standards with federal guidelines. Translating the new recommendations into school meal policies is a complex, multi-year process, with the latest standards proposed in 2023 and implementation expected by 2027. Notably, the new federal guidance diverged from the findings of a 20-member nutrition expert panel that reviewed scientific literature extensively while abstaining from making recommendations concerning ultraprocessed foods. The panel expressed reservations about the quality and causality of existing studies linking ultraprocessed foods to adverse health outcomes. Reactions to the stance on highly processed foods have been cautiously optimistic. The Food and Drug Administration and Department of Agriculture are concurrently developing a formal definition of ultraprocessed foods, a task anticipated to be time-consuming. Medical experts emphasize that not all highly processed foods are equally harmful; for example, processing of proteins and fats may have neutral or beneficial impacts, whereas processed carbohydrates pose more significant health risks. Another notable update is the suggestion to increase protein consumption potentially up to double previous recommendations, moving from 0.8 to between 1.2 and 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight. This adjustment reflects a shift from minimum essential intake toward optimal protein levels that may promote better health outcomes. Despite average protein intake by many Americans already exceeding earlier recommendations, experts highlight this new guidance as reflective of evolving nutritional science. Conversely, the American Heart Association calls for further research to ascertain the most beneficial protein sources and cautions against high consumption of fatty animal products linked to cardiovascular risk. The guidelines also advise sharply reducing or avoiding added sugars and non-nutritive sweeteners, recommending no more than 10 grams of added sugars per meal. This translates roughly to two teaspoons, tightening limits relative to older guidelines which suggested less than 10% of daily caloric intake from added sugars. Current data indicate Americans consume approximately 17 teaspoons daily on average. The advice regarding alcohol consumption has been modified significantly. Previously, federal guidance recommended no more than one daily drink for women and two for men. The latest guidelines instead counsel that consuming less alcohol promotes better health and recommend abstinence for pregnant women, individuals recovering from alcohol use disorder, and those unable to moderate intake. These updated dietary recommendations signify a cautious but clear endorsement of increased whole food intake and moderation in processed foods and added sugars. Their implementation is expected to influence various sectors from agriculture and food production to school nutrition programs and public health initiatives.