In a major overhaul of national nutrition policy, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced updated 2025–2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines, urging Americans to replace processed foods with whole, nutrient-dense options.
“These Guidelines return us to the basics,” Kennedy said at a White House briefing, outlining the framework for the new federal recommendations. “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.”
Kennedy framed the shift as a response to what the Trump Administration calls a national health emergency, pointing to chronic disease rates in the U.S. that officials say are linked to current eating patterns. He directly tied the guidelines to broader health goals, stating, “My message is clear: eat real food.”
Secretary Rollins emphasized that the guidelines are designed not only to improve health outcomes but to reinforce support for American farmers and producers. “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,” Rollins said, highlighting the role of agricultural interests in the new recommendations.
Rollins explained that the updated guidelines align federal nutrition policy with what the administration calls common-sense dietary advice—pushing protein at every meal, recommending full-fat dairy without added sugars, and urging Americans to limit highly processed foods and refined carbohydrates. “We are finally realigning our food system to support American farmers, ranchers, and companies that grow and produce real food,” she stressed.
The new guidance—required every five years—will influence federal programs ranging from school meals and military food service to nutrition advice for older Americans, infants and pregnant women.
Poor diet, Kennedy noted, is the root cause of obesity in the U.S., which accounts for $400 billion in medical spending each year. “That means 40 cents of every dollar that taxpayers pay in this country is going to treat diseases that could be averted through good food,” he said.