RFK Jr. unveils nutrition guidelines, pushing protein, less processed food

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins shared on Wednesday. new US dietary guidelinesHe advises Americans to eat more “real food” and reduce their intake of highly processed foods and added sugars.

The government’s new food pyramid replaces the MyPlate chart released under President Barack Obama and emphasizes protein, full-fat dairy and vegetables. The most significant changes under the updated guidelines include prioritizing protein over carbohydrates, recommending full-fat dairy products over low-fat options, and highlighting processed foods such as white bread, chips and candy.

“Healthy fats” such as full-fat dairy products and avocados have also been added to the pyramid, and the guidelines recommend cooking with olive oil, butter or beef tallow.

“We are ending the war on saturated fats,” Kennedy said at a White House press conference on Wednesday.

Similarly, website “We are ending the war on protein,” reads the statement announcing the new guidelines.

Kennedy called the new guidance “the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in history.”

His “Make America Healthy Again” agenda targets processed foods and sugary drinks while pushing more controversial dietary changes, such as cooking with beef tallow and eating more red meat, that many public health experts say can excessively lead to cardiovascular and other health problems. According to Kennedy, the backbone of the MAHA platform is that healthy eating will prevent chronic diseases.

Here are the food and beverage giants responding to MAHA’s move: PepsiCo And J.M. Smucker They announced plans to phase out synthetic dyes and other artificial ingredients. Although major policy changes have yet to occur since Kennedy’s confirmation, the industry fears further regulation, especially of ultra-processed foods.

USDA and HHS publish updated nutritional guidelines every five years. Although many Americans disregard the recommendations, the guidelines are designed as a public health tool to inform health care providers, federal agencies, policymakers and nutritionists. Given the broad scope of the guidelines, the food industry is also taking them into account.

Changes in dietary recommendations will also be reflected in school lunches and federal nutrition programs. Consumer advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest predictions It is stated that one in every four Americans will be directly affected by the changes in the guidelines.

More than a year ago, a advisory committee Americans should eat more plant-based foods and low-fat dairy products and consume less red meat and sugary drinks, a group of health and nutrition experts said based on a review of scientific evidence. But it’s unclear whether USDA and HHS will use the report to inform the dietary guidelines announced Wednesday.