US President Donald Trump's administration announced a new set of dietary guidelines on Wednesday, which recommend that Americans consume more protein and less sugar than previously advised, as well as avoid highly processed foods to achieve a healthy diet.
These guidelines are part of the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda, named after the social movement that supported Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He and other officials, including Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, have implemented MAHA policy goals, such as curbing childhood vaccinations and limiting access to unhealthy foods for food stamp recipients.
Kennedy and Rollins had promised to simplify the guidelines and remove what they describe as excessive influence by food companies on the recommendations. The guidelines are published every five years by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The new guidelines include some of the changes Kennedy promised, such as strongly discouraging the consumption of highly processed foods and added sugars. Kennedy and his MAHA supporters have emphasized that the high consumption of sugar and processed foods in the American diet contributes to the rise in chronic diseases.
"Today, our government declares war on added sugar," Kennedy said at a press conference at the White House.
Recommendations to prioritize fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as limiting saturated fats to 10% of daily calories, remain unchanged.
Kennedy said implementing these guidelines would lower health care costs, a key issue for Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
“The new guidelines recognize that whole, nutrient-dense foods are the most effective path to better health and lower health care costs,” he said.
The administration's MAHA Commission, led by Kennedy, stated in a strategic report in September that USDA and HHS plan to reform the process for developing future dietary guidelines, including the structure and composition of the advisory committee that recommends content.
Some advocacy groups have criticized the committee as being too heavily influenced by the food industry. The committee that advised on this year's guidelines was appointed by President Joe Biden's administration.
More protein, less sugar
The nutritional guidelines serve as the basis for federal school nutrition programs, which benefit about 30 million children, as well as guide medical advice and national disease prevention efforts.
The new version recommends that adults consume 1.2–1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, up from 0.8 grams which was the previous recommendation.
It also encourages consumption of full-fat dairy products, a shift from decades of advice that favored low-fat dairy to reduce health risks. Dairy industry groups have argued that farmers are harmed by policies that advise avoiding full-fat products.
The guidelines remove the previous recommendation that adults limit alcohol to one or two drinks a day, instead advising that adults should "consume less alcohol for better overall health."
A White House official said the guidelines are based on sound science and will improve public health.
"The American Medical Association welcomes the administration's new dietary guidelines, which focus on highly processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages and excessive sodium, which contribute to heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other chronic diseases," said the association's president, Bobby Mukkamala.
Avoid highly processed foods.
The guidelines emphasize that “no amount of added sugars or non-nutritive sweeteners is recommended or considered part of a healthy diet,” and that, if consumed, added sugars should not exceed 10 grams per serving.
Previous guidelines allowed small amounts of added sugar to help meet dietary recommendations, as long as it did not exceed 10% of daily calories.
The new guidelines call for avoiding highly processed foods, as well as foods and drinks with artificial flavors and colors. Some food companies have begun removing artificial ingredients to align with the administration's priorities.
Soft drink makers Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, as well as Mondelez, the maker of Oreo cookies, have come under scrutiny by Kennedy. Major European manufacturers such as Nestlé and Danone are also affected by the changes he has pushed forward.
The guidelines do not directly address ultra-processed foods, a term that the food industry has fiercely debated over its definition. HHS and USDA have announced that they are developing a federal definition for these foods.
Scientists from around the world have warned that ultra-processed foods, which often contain additives and industrial ingredients, are linked to worse health consequences, such as type 2 diabetes and obesity./Reuters
