In a move that has stirred up a storm among nutrition experts, the United States has unveiled a new food pyramid that departs significantly from previous dietary guidelines. The Trump administration’s latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which advise on the types and quantities of food and drink that constitute a healthy diet, are causing quite a stir.
The most striking change is the moralistic language used, with references to “real” food and a stark shift of responsibility onto individuals, stripping away any consideration of health equity. The shift from a plate graphic to an inverted pyramid may look revolutionary at first glance, but a closer examination reveals that the actual dietary advice hasn’t changed as much as the presentation suggests.
While the new website is eye-catching, with dramatic language about “restoring common sense,” many of the recommendations mirror the 2020–25 guidelines that came before. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, limiting saturated fat, and reducing processed foods are all still present. However, the emphasis on animal fats and protein is where things become contentious.
Meat, full-fat dairy, butter, and beef tallow – all sources of saturated fat – are now recommended as healthy fats, contradicting established science that links these nutrients to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, a leading cause of death in the US. The guidelines don’t explain how people can consume these foods while keeping saturated fat below the recommended 10 per cent of energy intake, and the math simply doesn’t add up.
The protein recommendations have also doubled, from 0.8g per kilogram of body weight per day to 1.2–1.6g per kilogram, following social trends in protein popularity rather than nutritional need. Additionally, the guidelines suggest flavouring meat and vegetables with salt while simultaneously restricting sodium, and barely mention fibre-rich foods like pulses and legumes.
Perhaps most problematic is the disconnect between the inverted pyramid image and the written guidelines. Wholegrains sit at the narrow bottom, suggesting low consumption is recommended, yet the text says two to four servings per day. Meats and saturated fats sit at the top, implying high consumption is advised. This confusion is deeply concerning, as the pyramid is the primary visual tool for communicating these guidelines to the public.
The process behind these guidelines has also been overhauled, with the US government rejecting the scientific report from independent experts that usually informs the guidelines. Instead, a new group of scientists was hired, who chose not to consider any fields other than nutrition science.
This narrower focus stands in contrast to international and US trends in dietary guidelines, which increasingly take a broader view, considering environmental impact and whether people from all backgrounds can access, afford, and prepare the recommended foods. Experts have called for “food systems-based” dietary guidelines to address the harsh reality that current guidelines have limited effect on what people actually eat.
With their confusing messaging and questionable recommendations, the new US guidelines are unlikely to influence what people eat, especially in regions where there is an oversupply of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods and an undersupply of high-nutrient foods like fruits and vegetables. This could have a detrimental impact on the health of millions of Americans who rely on government-funded food and nutrition programmes.