Overview
- The guidance elevates protein to 1.2–1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight per day, endorses full‑fat dairy, and retains a 10% cap on saturated fat.
- New advice emphasizes whole, minimally processed foods and cutting refined carbohydrates, ultra‑processed items, added sugars, and heavy drinking as numeric alcohol limits are dropped.
- The American Heart Association welcomed the update but warned salt use and red‑meat emphasis could push consumers over sodium and saturated‑fat limits tied to cardiovascular risk.
- Analyses note the U.S. approach prioritizes meat and full‑fat dairy, diverging from many nations that promote more plant‑forward diets and stricter red‑meat limits.
- The guidelines will inform federal nutrition standards for programs such as school meals and military feeding, while some commentators allege reviewer ties to meat and dairy industries.