Overview
- Health and Human Services, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., scrapped MyPlate in favor of an inverted pyramid that elevates protein at every meal, raises targets to about 1.2–1.6 g/kg, and embraces full‑fat dairy and more frequent meat, including red meat.
- The guidance urges drastic cuts to ultraprocessed foods, refined carbohydrates and added sugars, states that added sugar has no place in a healthy diet, and advises zero for children under four while retaining the saturated‑fat cap near 10% of daily calories.
- The new framework will inform school lunches, military and veteran meals, and SNAP purchasing rules, with changes phased in over roughly two years.
- Initial reactions diverged: the American Medical Association praised the focus on curbing ultraprocessed foods and sugar, while the American Heart Association and nutrition scientists warned about cardiovascular risks tied to saturated fat, sodium, and higher red‑meat and protein intakes.
- Affordability questions surfaced as media analyses estimated that closely following the new pattern could raise weekly grocery bills for individuals to roughly $175 at higher‑end retailers.