HHS releases new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, emphasizing the consumption of whole foods

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released the Dietary Guideline for Americans, 2025-2030 marking a significant reset of federal nutrition policy. According to the HHS, the new guidelines reestablish food, rather than pharmaceuticals, as the foundation of health, reclaiming the food pyramid as a tool for nourishment and education.

“These Guidelines return us to the basics,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., in a press release. “American households must prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods—protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains—and dramatically reduce highly processed foods. This is how we Make America Healthy Again.”

“Thanks to the bold leadership of President Trump, this edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans will reset federal nutrition policy, putting our families and children first as we move towards a healthier nation,” added U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins. “At long last, we are realigning our food system to support American farmers, ranchers, and companies that grow and produce real food. Farmers and ranchers are at the forefront of the solution, and that means more protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains on American dinner tables.”

The new guidance includes emphasis on:

• Prioritizing protein at every meal to achieve 1.2-1.6 g/kg of body weight per day
• Consuming full-fat dairy without added sugars
• Consumption of fruits (two servings) and vegetables (three servings) throughout the day, with a focus on whole forms
• Incorporating healthy fats from whole foods
• Eating whole grains (2-4 servings per day) and sharply reducing refined carbohydrates
• Limiting highly processes foods, added sugars, and artificial additives
• Limiting alcohol consumption

Trade groups are praising the new guidance for its emphasis on nutrition and acknowledging the role of dietary supplements in nutrition. In addressing the needs of specific age groups, the guidelines state that supplements may be implemented under medical supervision.

“For many Americans, meeting nutrient recommendations through food alone is challenging—sometimes due to limited food sources, increased nutritional needs during certain life stages, or other real-world barriers,” said Steve Mister, President & CEO of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN; Washington, D.C.), in a press release. “By appropriately recognizing dietary supplements as a way to help fill nutrient gaps, the agencies have taken an important step toward improving public health and ensuring the Dietary Guidelines are both evidence-based and practical.”

The Natural Products Association (NPA; Washington, D.C.) also praised the new guidelines but also encourages policymakers “to ensure that dietary supplements are accurately represented as part of a comprehensive nutrition strategy. This includes recognizing the essentiality of specific nutrients, reflecting modern nutrition science on bioavailability and life-stage needs, and avoiding outdated assumptions that overlook how Americans actually consume nutrients in the real world.”