2025-30 Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Revised DGA emphasizes whole foods, real protein and less added sugar

On Jan. 7, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) released the updated 2025-30 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), marking one of the most significant revisions in federal nutrition policy in decades. 

The new guidance shifts toward whole, minimally-processed foods and away from added sugars and ultra-processed products, a notable change from the first iteration of the 2025-30 DGA released in the fall of 2024 which pushed plant-based diets and recommended replacing red meat with beans, peas and lentils.

Diet and disease

The DGA is the federal government’s principal set of dietary recommendations, shaping standards for programs such as school meals, federal food assistance and military dining, and are updated every five years to reflect the latest in nutrition science.

“Since the first report was published in 1980, our nation’s diet-related chronic disease rates have risen to pervasive levels,” state USDA National Advisor for Nutrition, Health and Housing Dr. Ben Carson and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz in a Jan. 8 Newsweek opinion column. 

The two go on to note the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported over 40 percent of the roughly 73 million children in the U.S. have at least one chronic health condition and 75 percent are not eligible for military service due to their poor health.

In a separate opinion column published by Fox News on Jan. 8, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. point out nearly 90 percent of healthcare spending is used to treat people with chronic diseases, while more than 70 percent of adults are overweight or obese and nearly one in three adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 have prediabetes.

“These numbers are unacceptable,” write Carson and Oz. “Poor health inhibits the ability of our citizens to live healthy and happy lives, especially when harmful habits are ingrained from childhood.” 

“While these statistics constitute a tragedy for the individuals directly affected, they have also put our national security at risk,” Rollins and Kennedy add. “Diet-driven chronic disease now disqualifies large numbers of young Americans from military service, undermining national readiness and cutting off a historic pathway to opportunity and upward mobility.”

New guidelines

At the heart of the new guidelines is a call for Americans to “eat real food” – a phrase officials are using to emphasize nutrient-dense choices and reduce reliance on heavily-processed options. 

More specifically, the new DGA recommends prioritizing whole, minimally-processed foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats and increasing consumption of protein, with new recommended ranges of about 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, which is significantly higher than previous standards. 

Additionally, the DGA urges Americans to avoid highly-processed foods and added sugars, noting no amount of added sugar is considered “truly healthy” and encouraging Americans to limit their added sugar intake to no more than 10 grams per meal.

The DGA also places a broader emphasis on healthy fats from whole-food sources such as nuts, seeds, olives and avocados, while saturated fat intake is still recommended to remain below 10 percent of daily calories. 

“To ‘Make America Healthy Again,’ we must return to the basics of nutrition,” say Carson and Oz. “What we put into our bodies impacts what we can get out of them. What we eat impacts how we grow, function and flourish. However, the American diet has shifted dramatically toward highly-processed foods with artificial additives, which have displaced nutrient-dense whole foods grown by America’s farmers and ranchers. As a result, Americans are consuming fewer essential vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients needed for optimal biological functioning.”

They continue, “Research consistently shows key micronutrients such as calcium, iron, potassium and vitamin D – which are found in fruits and vegetables – are essential for children’s physiological well-being. Evidence also consistently links diets centered on wholesome foods to lower rates of chronic diseases.”

“This is why we are finally putting real food back at the center of the American diet – real food that nourishes the body, restores health, fuels energy and builds strength,” they add. “This pivot also supports the abundant healthy food being supplied by America’s incredible farmers and ranchers. By making milk, raising cattle and growing wholesome fruits, vegetables and grains, they hold the key to solving our national health crisis.”

Other notable changes to the 2025-30 DGA includes replacing the longstanding MyPlate graphic with an inverted food pyramid which places protein, dairy and healthy fats at the top and whole grains at the base.

Another standout policy change is advice on alcohol consumption, which removes specific daily limits previously recommended – one drink a day for women and two for men – instead suggesting Americans simply “consume less alcohol for better health.” 

Mixed reaction

As expected, the new guidelines have elicited a range of mixed responses. 

Some praise the whole-food focus and stronger stance on added sugar and processed foods, while others have raised concerns about the increased emphasis on animal proteins and full-fat dairy.

Ag groups such as the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) are among those in favor of the changes. 

“Protein is not optional – it’s foundational,” says USCA President Justin Tupper in a Jan. 7 statement. “This guidance affirms what producers and nutrition experts alike have long understood – high-quality protein, especially beef, is critical to human health. America’s cattle producers are proud to provide a safe and reliable protein source and the most nutrient-dense product in the meat case for families across the country.” 

Tupper adds, “USCA supports nutrition policies grounded in sound science and transparency and will continue advocating for federal guidance reflecting the value of nutrient-dense foods and the producers who responsibly raise them.”

In a separate statement released the same day, NCBA Vice President and Idaho Rancher Kim Brackett says, “As a mom, I understand the importance of eating nutritious wholesome protein, and as a rancher, I see the hard work that goes into providing the best possible food for our communities. The updated and simplified DGA will help more families like mine learn the facts about beef’s nutritional value and make the best decisions when they’re shopping for a nutrient-rich, whole and delicious protein.”

“Beef provides high amounts of protein plus nine other essential nutrients like iron and B vitamins, and gold-standard clinical studies have consistently shown it is easy to incorporate beef into a balanced, heart-healthy diet,” she adds. “We appreciate Secretary Rollins and Secretary Kennedy for underlining the role of beef as an important part of a healthy diet.”

Looking ahead

Despite the debate, officials believe the new guidelines are designed to be easier for both consumers and implementers – such as schools and healthcare providers – to follow, and federal nutrition programs are expected to begin adjusting standards to align with the new guidelines over coming months.

Officials also say they believe the updated guidelines will have far-reaching impacts on how Americans eat, how schools feed children and how the nation approaches chronic disease prevention through diet.

“At long last, we are realigning our food system to support American farmers, ranchers and companies who grow and produce real food. Farmers and ranchers are at the forefront of the solution, whether they raise beef, provide dairy or harvest nourishing fruits and vegetables,” Rollins and Kennedy write. 

“This DGA recognizes the national health crisis affects us all and must be addressed through a holistic nationwide effort. We are calling on everyone – especially healthcare professionals, insurers, educators, community leaders, industry and lawmakers across all levels of government – to join in,” they add.

“Together, we can shift our food system away from chronic disease and toward nourishment, resilience and long-term health,” the two conclude. “As we ring in the new year, let’s recommit to ‘Making America Healthy Again,’ affecting real improvement through real food.”

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.