Overview
- In a major shift, the recommendations raise protein targets to roughly 1.2–1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight per day and call for whole-food protein from both animal and plant sources.
- The guidance allows full-fat dairy and whole-food cooking fats in moderation, while maintaining a saturated fat limit of less than 10% of total calories.
- The plan explicitly urges limiting ultra-processed foods and added sugars, suggesting no more than about 10 grams of added sugar per meal, and it removes prior quantified daily alcohol limits.
- Cardiologists and nutrition experts advise choosing lean cuts, limiting red meat to occasional use, avoiding processed meats, and favoring lower-temperature cooking or marinades to reduce harmful compounds.
- Independent analysts highlight advisory-committee ties to beef, pork and dairy groups and departures from standard evidence review processes, as agricultural stakeholders anticipate potential boosts in demand for local farm products.