The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee is recommending a reorganization of dietary patterns into a single, flexible diet that emphasizes plant-based proteins.
The DGAC published its scientific report and recommendations Tuesday for USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services to consider when crafting the next Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The committee held seven public meetings over the course of the 22-month process and received about 9,900 public comments. Throughout these meetings, the committee reviewed and evaluated scientific studies relating to key nutrition issues.
The report and recommendations now go to USDA and HHS, which are tasked with crafting the final 2025-2030 guidelines.
Some have expressed concern that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's choice for HHS secretary, could have more control over what the final guidelines look like. Kennedy and others in the Make America Healthy Again movement have been critical of the DGAC, specifically potential conflicts of interest among members.
There will be a 60-day public comment period and a public meeting on Jan. 16, 2025 for stakeholders to respond to the scientific report.
“USDA and HHS are excited to begin the next phase to develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, as we all work together to ensure that children, individuals, and families across the country have access to nutritious, safe and affordable food,” said Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack in a release.
The DGAs are updated every five years and are used to set nutrition standards for federal feeding programs like school meals.
Chart provided in DGAC ReportOne of the notable recommended changes is condensing the three existing dietary patterns — Healthy U.S.-Style, Healthy Mediterranean-Style, and Healthy Vegetarian — into one “Eat Healthy Your Way” pattern. The DGAC describes this as a “single inclusive, flexible” pattern that considers diverse backgrounds and foodways.
This and other recommendations were discussed during the committee’s last public meeting where it reviewed the scientific report.
This new pattern emphasizes intake of beans, peas and lentils while reducing red and processed meats. It also moves the legumes from the vegetable food group to the protein one, and reorganizes the protein category to prioritize beans, peas and lentils first. In the grouping, these are followed by nuts, seeds and soy, then seafood, and then meats, poultry and eggs.
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“The updates reflect the committee’s emphasis on how and why individuals eat what they do and its commitment to building flexibilities into an inclusive framework such that the Dietary Guidelines can better meet individuals where they are and to meet the varied budgetary, cultural, and personal preferences of people living in the United States,” the committee wrote in its report.
Overall, the committee suggests the new guidelines emphasize vegetable, fruit, legume, whole grain, nut, seafood and low or non-fat dairy consumption. On the flip side, the report suggests limiting consumption of red and processed meats, as well as foods high in saturated fats, added sugars and sodium.
For the first time, this DGAC was tasked with examining the associated health outcomes linked with ultra-processed food consumption. However, throughout the scientific review, the committee found that not enough research exists on this link. The committee could only draw conclusions on these foods with limited evidence and recommended future committees continue examining this issue.
The committee also looked at the issue of health equity in diets.
"The importance of reviewing evidence through a health equity lens and considering factors like economic stability cannot be overstated," the report said. "Income and employment have a significant impact on dietary choices through various factors, including time constraints, financial resources, and workplace food environments. Economic constraints can limit access to healthier food options, pushing individuals toward cheaper, less nutritious alternatives."
Early reaction came from Jerold Mande, a former USDA official during the Obama administration and now CEO of Nourish Science.
“It's certainly a missed opportunity bordering on a gross dereliction of duty to fail to answer the UPF question they were asked,” said Mande, CEO of Nourish Science and a former USDA official during the Obama administration. “Eliminating the Mediterranean and vegetarian healthy eating patterns and renaming [the Healthy U.S. Style Eat Healthy Your Way] seems like an unwarranted gift to the food industry. MyPlate Healthy eating pattern was the obvious choice.”
Mande noted that in written testimony at a Senate committee hearing last week, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said, "FDA agrees that the clear association between UPF and poor health outcomes is cause for major concern."
Meat industry groups opposed the recommendations and said they would urge agencies to reject the move away from animal-based protein. The Meat Institute and National Cattlemen's Beef Association argue meat protein offers essential vitamins and nutrients that Americans are often under consuming.
"Americans need guidance on how meat fits in a healthy diet," said Julie Anna Potts, president and CEO of the Meat Institute in a statement. "Directives from out-of-touch academics to eat legumes and avoid the nutrient-dense foods they love does not foster improved health and fails to account for the central role of meat within America’s cultural diversity."
"Cutting back on beef isn’t going to Make America Healthy Again. There’s irrefutable evidence about the valuable role of beef and its nutrients in promoting health,” said Shalene McNeil, executive director of nutrition science at NCBA, in a statement.
The International Fresh Produce Association celebrated the increased emphasis on fruits and vegetabls, but expressed concern about the proposed reduction in starchy vegetables. They argue these provide key nutrients for consumers when prepared with minimal to no added sugars, sodium or saturated fat.
"At a time when Americans are not meeting recommendations for fruits and vegetables, it is critical that the 2025-2030 DGA strengthen recommendations for consumption of nutrient-dense foods like fruits and vegetables,” said Mollie Van Lieu, vice president for nutrition and health at IFPA.
The DGAC recommendations retained the suggested levels for dairy and affirmed that dairy products should continue to be an important pillar of American diets, which the International Dairy Foods Association celebrated. However, the group said the committee excluded studies that show health benefits of dairy at all fat levels. IDFA urged the two federal agencies to reconsider these studies in making the final guidelines.
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