The new document features imagery of red meat, cheese, fruits and vegetables at the top, with grains, once foundational to the food pyramid, situated at the bottom.
“The new guidelines recognize that whole, nutrient-dense food is the most effective path to better health and lower health care costs,” Secretary Kennedy said in the White House press briefing. “The new framework centers on protein and healthy fats, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. It’s upside down, a lot of people say. It was actually upside down before.”
The new, 10-page guidance is a departure from previous iterations on a variety of fronts, from its size (The 2020 DGA was 150 pages) to its core focus: prioritizing protein at every meal to and—perhaps no surprise to Make America Healthy Again observers—a call to reduce sugar and ultra-processed food intake. While it does not define ultra or highly processed food, the HHS and USDA have said they are developing a federal definition.
The guidance also suggests that Americans avoid sugar-sweetened beverages, such as sodas, fruit drinks and energy drinks.
Protein in the spotlight
The most prominent theme throughout the report is the emphasis on protein, recommending 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, up from the prior recommended daily consumption of 0.8 grams. This falls in line with the proteinification trend, where market data firm SPINS found that products with higher protein content do particularly well.
Sports Nutrition Coach Susan Kleiner, PhD, owner of High Performance Nutrition consulting firm, said the DGA clearly aims to reduce carbohydrates.
“It’s overall a good idea to increase protein to accomplish that,” she said. “The protein guidance seems pretty specific for this kind of document. However, since this document sets goals for so many government programs, it could be a good move.
“School lunches, for example, have always been heavy on starch from commoditized foods, and often highly processed starches. A higher protein goal could push out the ultra-processed starches more easily than trying to substitute a less processed in place of a more processed food.”
Gut health prominently featured
The new guidance also underscored another major trend: gut health. Once a concept only discussed among those in the scientific community, gut health has emerged a mainstream topic that has evolved beyond bacteria counts to understanding complex metabolic ecosystems and nutrient exchanges that support whole-body wellness.
“Your gut contains trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms called the microbiome. A healthy diet supports a well-balanced microbiome and healthy digestion. Highly processed foods can disrupt this balance, while vegetables, fruits, fermented foods (e.g., sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, miso), and high-fiber foods support a diverse microbiome, which may be beneficial for health.”
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
The highlight on gut health, a global market slated to hit $270 billion by 2034, was a well-received move by the International Probiotics Association (IPA).
“IPA welcomes the draft 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines’ increased recognition of the gut microbiome and the positive role of vegetables, fruits, fermented foods and high-fiber diets in supporting digestive and overall health,” said George Paraskevakos, executive director of IPA.
“While probiotics and prebiotics are not called out as specific recommendations, the emphasis on nutrient-dense whole foods and dietary patterns is conducive to healthy microbiome support and lays an important foundation for future inclusion,” added Sandra Saville, RD, director of education and communication at IPA.
The IPA told NutraIngredients that the DGA’s focus on nutrient-dense whole foods, plant-forward patterns, reduction of ultra-processed foods and positive messaging regarding the microbiome reflects significant progress in national dietary guidance, adding that these recommendations:
- Support metabolic and digestive health associated with diverse microbial communities
- Encourage consumption of foods that support a healthy microbiome and provide beneficial fermentation components
- Open future pathways for fortification to help meet public health goals
“IPA commends the development of the Guidelines and looks forward to integration of the latest probiotic and prebiotic science into American dietary guidance,” the association stated.
What about fiber?
The guidelines do recommend fiber-rich whole grains and high-fiber foods to support a diverse gut microbiome, but it stops there.
“It is encouraging to see the spotlight on gut health in the new guidelines and mention of ‘microbiome’ three times in the report,” said Hannah Ackermann, RD, vice president of marketing and nutrition affairs at Arrabina prebiotic supplier COMET. “Less encouraging is that ‘fiber’ is mentioned only twice in the report, while ‘protein’ is mentioned 17 times.”
Indeed, nearly 94% of Americans fail to meet daily fiber recommendations, while 85% percent meet or exceed their protein needs.
“While the prevalence of obesity and prediabetes is mentioned in the report, there is no mention of rising rates of colon cancer, especially among young adults, which is a serious public health concern,” Ackermann added.
Saturated fats
As a registered dietician, Kleiner said a big questions for her is the emphasis on saturated fats, from whole milk dairy, butter and beef tallow.
“While beef tallow may be a social media/Tiktok darling by RFK Jr. for both food and skincare, it’s hardly a kitchen staple in American homes,” she said, pointing to the document’s promise to restore common sense, scientific integrity and accountability to federal food and health policy.
“According to scientific evidence, high intakes of dietary saturated fats lead to elevated LDL levels, increasing heart disease risk. While there may be the beginning of a debate over how much saturated fats contribute, there is no debate over if they do or do not contribute. They definitely do.”
Implications
While the guidelines emphasize whole foods, they do carve out specific roles for dietary supplements in addressing nutrient gaps across certain life stages and dietary patterns. For instance, iron is recommended for infants, adolescents, young adults and pregnant women, while there is an emphasis on healthy fats, iron and folate for women and healthy fats and protein for men. Benefits of supplementation was highlighted in two groups in particular: vegans and vegetarians.
“Vegetarian diets often fall short in vitamins D and E, choline and iron, whereas vegan diets show broader shortfalls in vitamins A, D, E, B6 and B12; riboflavin; niacin; choline; calcium; iron; magnesium; phosphorus; potassium; zinc; and protein. Monitor nutrient status periodically, especially for iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium and iodine.”
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
This could signal a need for the supplement industry to focus on providing targeted, high-quality supplements for these identified populations in addition to promoting widespread supplementation among the general population. The guidelines also place emphasis on consulting healthcare professionals for supplementation, highlighting the need for collaboration among industry and healthcare practitioners.
”To the average American, the dietary guidelines may seem unimportant, but as a registered dietitian, I want to stress their importance," said Ackermann.
“The guidelines impact not only nutrition facts panel labels, including the recommended daily intakes on every packaged food and supplement, but also serve as the foundation for federal food policies, nutrition education and programs for schools, hospitals and low-income families, shaping what food is served to the most vulnerable populations in our country.”
Acknowledgement appreciated, but trades want more
The guidelines—which provide the foundation for programs like the National School Lunch Program that is required to follow the guidelines to feed about 30 million U.S. children on an average school day—has garnered mostly positive reviews from some trade organizations.
“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.
“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. Recommendations for the appropriate use of dietary supplements strengthen the Dietary Guidelines and help consumers and healthcare providers make informed decisions. CRN has long urged consumers to have meaningful discussions with their healthcare providers about their supplement regimens, and we are delighted that the new Dietary Guidelines underscore the importance of these conversations.”
The Natural Products Association said that while it welcomes the guidelines’ emphasis on nutrient-dense diets and improved overall diet quality, policymakers and health professionals should consider how Americans can realistically meet these recommendations, pointing out that it is critical to acknowledge that millions of Americans fail to obtain adequate intake of key vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients solely from food.
“Dietary supplements play a vital and complementary role in closing these nutrient gaps, particularly for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, older adults, children and individuals with chronic health conditions,” NPA stated. “Supplements are not a substitute for healthy eating, but they are a proven, science-based tool that support public health objectives when dietary intake falls short.”
The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) said it welcomes the continued recognition that dietary supplements play a complementary role in helping individuals meet nutrient needs when diet alone is insufficient, particularly during key life stages or for vulnerable populations.
“With approximately 75% of Americans not consuming enough nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables, gaps in dietary intake remain a persistent public health challenge. Longstanding public health examples, such as folic acid supplementation for pregnant women or those who may become pregnant, demonstrate how supplementation can support nutrient adequacy when dietary intake falls short,” CHPA said.
The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED) noted that supplementation is mentioned in passing in sections for infants, adolescents, older adults, pregnancy, lactation and vegetarian/vegan diets, but with vague recommendations.
“Given the callouts of omega-3 specific seafood in the guidelines, this is an opportunity for GOED and the industry to continue to elevate the need for EPA and DHA omega-3s in the diet (and to supplement when diets fall short),” GOED highlighted. “Additionally, the emphasis on protein in the diet is another opportunity to promote omega-3-rich seafood as a cornerstone of the diet.
“Since there is a suggestion for pregnant women to speak with their doctors about the need for prenatal supplements, this could be an opportunity to continue to stress the importance of EPA/DHA in prenatal supplements, and how much pregnant women need each day, particularly given the demonstrated benefits for omega-3s in reducing the risk of preterm and early preterm birth.”
