Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Why Dietary Guidelines for Americans Matter

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) are updated every five years and are intended to communicate current nutrition science into evidence-based recommendations for Americans to make educated healthy choices and decrease risk of chronic disease. The DGAs also serve as the foundation for federal nutrition policy, public health initiatives, and inform clinical practice.

Importantly, federal nutrition and safety net programs – including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) – have traditionally aligned with the DGAs. Annually, about 30 million children participate in school meal programs, and 6.7 million individuals rely on WIC monthly, emphasizing the influence and impact of the DGAs.

Given that these programs support populations at increased risk for nutrition-related health disparities, maintaining evidence-based dietary guidance is essential to promoting population health, reducing chronic disease risk, and advancing health equity.

Legislation

The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) along with the Dietary Guidelines Reform Act of 2025 (S. 1129 / H.R. 2326), propose changes to the DGA development process that raise concerns regarding scientific integrity, public health, and health equity.

The DGAs have historically been grounded in rigorous scientific evidence and expert consensus. The proposed legislation would establish an "Independent Advisory Board," with half of its members appointed by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services and half appointed by members of Congress.

This structure introduces potential political influence into a previously non-biased and non-partisan process. The board would be responsible for generating the scientific questions reviewed by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC), thereby determining the scope of research and evidence considered, potentially limiting what is ultimately included in the DGAs. Additionally, the acts propose replacing the established five-year review and update cycle with language allowing updates "as necessary" raising concerns about conducting regular, comprehensive reviews of the DGAs and scientific literature.

The proposed legislation includes provisions that could lead to deviations from research-backed recommendations, which may increase the risk of diet-related diseases. Given the influence of the DGAs across federal programs and policies, any weakening of these standards could have extensive negative impacts on population health and augment long-term healthcare costs.

The DGAs play a critical role in supporting populations that rely on federal nutrition programs. The proposed legislation would also limit the topics the DGAC can consider, such as prohibiting the inclusion of factors including socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, culture, and federal nutrition programs. Excluding these considerations could exacerbate existing disparities in access to healthy foods and increase the risk of diet-related diseases.

Academy Stance on DGAs

The Academy supports the use of evidence-based nutrition guidance to promote public health and reduce chronic disease risk. The Academy supports the DGAs' underlying purpose – making them actionable by health care providers and the public – and the development of a comprehensive plan for the DGAs broad and effective implementation.

The Academy recognizes that many recommendations within the 2025–2030 DGAs align with longstanding nutrition science, including guidance to increase intake of nutrient dense foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fiber, while limiting added sugars, sodium, and highly processed foods. However, the Academy has concerns regarding several aspects of the guidelines, including inconsistencies with saturated fat recommendations, particularly recommending beef tallow, butter, and whole fat dairy products.

The Academy opposes proposed changes to the DGA process in the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 as well as the Dietary Guidelines Reform Act of 2025. The Academy emphasizes that maintaining a transparent, science-based process is essential to ensuring the DGAs continue to effectively guide policy, practice, and public health outcomes.

The Academy joined the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) in leading a coalition sign-on letter opposing proposed changes to the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans development process included in the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) and the Dietary Guidelines Reform Act (S.1129 / H.R.2326).

DGA Resources

• Statement from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on the Release of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
• Letter Opposing Changes to DGA Process