Overview
- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the new guidance during a White House briefing on January 7.
- His phone rang with a duck-quacking ringtone mid-briefing, drawing laughter from officials and reporters.
- Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins quipped that duck is high in protein before the briefing continued.
- The guidelines elevate protein and healthy fats, urge less sugar and ultra-processed foods, and introduce an inverted food pyramid centered on meat, fats, fruits, and vegetables.
- Officials framed the shift as a return to “real foods” to improve public health and lower costs, saying prior advice discouraged fats and protein.