RFK Jr. releases new dietary guidelines
Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced new dietary guidelines and said his message was clear: “Eat real food.”
New U.S. dietary guidelines announced by Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on January 7 include recommendations for more protein, less sugar, and ultra-processed foods. The guidelines also ease restrictions on alcoholic beverages.
Speaking at a White House press briefing, press secretary Caroline Leavitt said the announcement was in line with President Trump’s domestic pledge to “make America healthy again.”
“My message as Secretary of Health and Human Services is clear: Eat real food,” President Kennedy said, calling the food pyramid “the most significant reset in federal nutrition policy history.”
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the new guidelines encourage families and schools to prioritize nutritious, whole foods.
“That means more protein, more dairy, more healthy fats, more whole grains, and more fruits and vegetables. Whether fresh, frozen, canned, or dried, we’re finally putting real food back at the center of the American diet,” she said.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture jointly issue guidelines every five years. Updates to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which affect school lunches, medical advice and nutritional standards, were expected after the summer.
Ultra-processed foods, focus on sugar
The updated guidelines do not change long-standing advice on saturated fats, as some had previously expected. Instead, they focus on sugar and ultra-processed foods.
“We are ending the war on saturated fat,” Kennedy added. “Today, our government declares war on added sugar.”
Ultra-processed foods are primarily factory-made preparations made with little or no refined ingredients, additives (including colorings and preservatives), and whole foods.
These foods, which use artificial flavors and sweeteners, are designed to be more addictive, taste better, and have a longer shelf life. They are usually high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, and lack nutrients and fiber.
President Kennedy said federal policy is “turning a blind eye to the dire consequences” of promoting and subsidizing highly processed foods and refined carbohydrates.
“The new guidelines recognize that whole, nutritious foods are the most effective way to improve health and reduce health care costs,” Kennedy said.
More than half of the calories consumed at home by adults and children in the United States come from ultra-processed foods (UPF), according to a 2025 analysis from the National Center for Health Statistics.
UPF intake has been linked to more than 30 health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, mental health disorders, and obesity. A diet high in UPF is also associated with an increased risk of arthritis and increased fat within the thigh muscles.
Although UPF is unhealthy, it tends to be cheaper and more accessible to many people than whole foods.
Rollins said their estimates suggest that eating healthy could become cheaper for Americans.
“The challenge is access to healthy food, especially in areas of America where there are food deserts,” she says.
President Kennedy said the idea that processed foods are cheap is “an illusion.”
“You’re paying or you’re paying on the back end,” he said. “We’re paying the price for diabetes, obesity and disease.”
More meat menus
President Kennedy called on Americans to eat more meat, and protein was also a hot topic during the presentation.
“Protein and healthy fats are essential, but were wrongly discouraged in previous dietary guidelines,” he says.
The problem with wanting more meat is that they aren’t all equally healthy. For example, consuming large amounts of red meat comes with health risks, including its association with type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Revised alcohol recommendations
The new recommendations also remove limits on alcoholic beverages, which previously recommended limiting consumption to one to two drinks a day.
“I don’t think people should drink alcohol, but it gives people an excuse to bond and socialize,” said Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “There’s nothing healthier than having fun with friends in a safe way.”
Response from health authorities
In a press release Tuesday, the American Medical Association praised the new guidelines, which “focus on highly processed foods, sugary drinks, and excess sodium that contribute to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic diseases.”
AMA President Dr. Bobby Mukamala added that the guidelines “affirm that food is medicine and provide clear direction that patients and physicians can use to improve their health.”
The American Heart Association praised several aspects of the new guidelines, including an emphasis on increasing intake of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains while limiting added sugars, refined grains, highly processed foods, and sugary drinks.
However, the organization also shared some concerns when it comes to red meat, saying in a press release that “consumers may inadvertently exceed recommended limits for sodium and saturated fat, which are key contributors to cardiovascular disease.”
“Although the guidelines emphasize full-fat dairy products, the Heart Association encourages consumption of low-fat and non-fat dairy products that are beneficial to heart health,” the AHA added.
Contributor: Adriana Rodriguez, Stephen J. Beard and Carly Procell, america today
