US resets dietary guidelines, backing more protein and fewer ultra-processed foods

A redesigned visual framework replaces the traditional food pyramid with an inverted version that places meats and vegetables at the widest point on top. Credit: USDA

The US government has rewritten its national dietary advice, placing protein and whole foods at the centre of eating guidelines while explicitly calling for Americans to cut back on highly-processed foods in a major policy reset.

Unveiled on Wednesday at the White House, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030 were released by US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. alongside agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins, marking what officials describe as the most significant overhaul of federal nutrition policy in decades.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said:

My message is clear: eat real food.

These Guidelines return us to the basics. American households must prioritise whole, nutrient-dense foods—protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains—and dramatically reduce highly processed foods. This is how we Make America Healthy Again.”

The government said the overhaul reflects a deepening health crisis, as diet-related chronic disease accounts for nearly 90 percent of US healthcare spending. More than 70 percent of adults are overweight or obese, almost one in three adolescents has prediabetes, and officials warned that poor diet is increasingly disqualifying young Americans from military service.

At the core of the new guidelines is a decisive shift away from decades of low-fat, carbohydrate-heavy advice, with clearer numerical targets and firmer language than previous editions.

Key changes in the 2025–2030 dietary guidelines include:

• Higher protein targets, with daily intake set at 1.2–1.6g per kilogram of body weight, significantly above previous guidance, and protein prioritised at every meal.
• Clear dairy serving goals, recommending three servings per day as part of a 2,000-calorie diet, adjusted for individual energy needs.
• A shift towards fibre-rich whole grains, with two to four servings per day, while significantly reducing refined carbohydrates such as white bread, flour tortillas and crackers.
• Explicit fruit and vegetable targets, advising three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit daily, with frozen, dried or canned options permitted if they contain little or no added sugar.
• A direct warning on highly-processed foods, urging Americans to “avoid highly processed packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat, or other foods that are salty or sweet, such as chips, cookies, and candy,” and instead prioritise nutrient-dense, home-prepared meals.
• Updated infant feeding guidance, recommending breast milk for the first six months, or iron-fortified formula if unavailable, with breastfeeding continuing for two years or longer but formula stopping after 12 months.
• Stricter limits on added sugars, stating they should be avoided in infancy and early childhood and through age 10.
• Reduced alcohol consumption, with complete avoidance advised for pregnant women, people recovering from alcohol use disorder, those unable to control intake, and individuals with certain medical conditions or medications.

The government has streamlined the guidelines, cutting the core advice to a short, accessible document and publishing the scientific evidence separately from the nearly 150-page 2020 edition, while also unveiling a redesigned visual framework that replaces the traditional food pyramid with an inverted version placing meats and vegetables at the widest point on top.

Cautiously welcomed by the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association cautiously welcomed the changes, praising the emphasis on fruits, vegetables and whole grains, as well as limits on added sugars and highly-processed foods.

In a statement, the American Heart Association said:

We see an important opportunity to educate consumers about the scientific basis for certain recommendations. For example, we are concerned that recommendations regarding salt seasoning and red meat consumption could inadvertently lead consumers to exceed recommended limits for sodium and saturated fats, which are primary drivers of cardiovascular disease.”

It added that while the guidelines highlight whole-fat dairy, it continues to encourage low-fat and fat-free options for heart health, and is urging further research into optimal protein intake and sources.

For decades, the Heart Association has issued science-based recommendations for healthy eating. We remain committed to working with the administration to reduce the burden of chronic disease, particularly for the next generation.”