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 call for eating less processed foods, but will Americans really stop reaching for them?
More than half of the calories consumed at home by U.S. adults and children come from ultra-processed foods (UPF), according to a 2025 analysis from the National Center for Health Statistics.
But Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is trying to change that by including, for the first time, guidelines with specific language on cutting back on highly processed foods, such as avoiding added sugars and refined grains.
“Today, our government declares war on added sugar,” President Kennedy said at the January 7 White House press conference where the guidelines were announced. “My message is clear: Eat real food.”
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 use artificial flavors and sweeteners and are designed to taste better and have a longer shelf life. They are usually high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, and lack nutrients and fiber.
Dr. Fang Fang Jiang, a cancer epidemiologist specializing in nutrition, told USA TODAY that the message to eat more whole foods and minimally processed foods is a good one, but “we have to wait and see” whether Americans will actually give up soda and packaged snacks.
“Unless you change the environment, it’s very difficult to get individuals to make healthy food choices,” Zhang says. “The impact will then depend on how policies are designed and implemented in this country.”
Because right now, access and affordability are important factors when Americans decide what to eat.
“We know fresh fruits and vegetables are ideal, but for many people they’re expensive. So how can we get them?” Dr. Daniel Dunham, medical director at Lenox Hill Hospital, told USA TODAY.
“Telling people from the pulpit how to eat without understanding the socio-economic challenges they face is insensitive at best and thoughtless at worst,” he said. “We need to be mindful of that and strive to provide healthy food options at affordable prices.”
But Zhang hopes the guidelines will have some impact, including setting standards for many federal programs such as school lunches and SNAP benefits.
Wait, what about processed meat?
In addition to sugary drinks and ready-to-eat foods, certain meats are also considered processed products. And experts are concerned that some of the guidelines’ messages, particularly the emphasis on protein, could cause confusion.
“The main criticism I have about this is that it lumps processed and unprocessed proteins together, and that’s probably too simplistic,” Dunham said.
Consumption of UPF, including processed meats such as hot dogs and bologna, 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.
Excessive consumption of red meat is also associated with negative health effects, including an increased risk of colorectal cancer. But now meat sits at the top of a new, inverted food pyramid. Saturated fats found in red meat and dairy products also increase the risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease, Dunham added.
“If you have no other sources of protein and you have dairy and red meat, it’s probably better than nothing. But if you have other types of protein, they’re probably better from a health standpoint,” Dunham said, noting that “many people don’t have access to the ‘ideal foods.'”
Will Americans really give up processed foods?
Public health campaigns can be effective, but guidelines need to be combined with policies that help people make healthy food choices, Zhang said.
“Should we tax ultra-processed foods? Should we subsidize fruits, vegetables and other healthy food options?” she said.
Another suggestion is to put specific labels on food packages to help consumers make wise choices, as some other countries have done.
“Some labels can be very misleading,” she said, adding that there is no standard label for whole grains, for example. Depending on the product, “you might think it’s whole grain, but it’s not.”
Dunham believes that in order for Americans to make good choices when it comes to food, we need to remove the barriers that get in the way.
“If it’s the right thing to do that’s easy, people will do it. If it’s the hard thing to do, people are less likely to do the right thing,” he said. “We can make it easier to do that by making it more affordable and more accessible.”
