Overview
- HHS and USDA released new federal guidance that elevates nutrient-dense proteins, including red meat, and sets intake at 1.2–1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight.
- The visual model is inverted, placing meats, dairy, and so‑called healthy fats alongside fruits and vegetables above whole grains.
- The document endorses full‑fat animal products and permits butter and beef tallow for cooking, reversing years of low‑fat messaging.
- The guidance declares added sugars and nonnutritive sweeteners incompatible with a healthy diet, with a strict ban for children under four, and urges cutting ultra‑processed foods.
- The administration promotes the shift as support for U.S. producers, while medical and nutrition groups voice skepticism citing evidence on saturated fat, red and processed meat, and a 2025 JAMA study linking butter to higher mortality.