New U.S. Food Guidelines Elevate Protein, Condemn Sugar and Ultra-Processed Foods

Protein has been promoted to MVP status in the new edition of Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which was released last week. The guidelines also encourage consuming whole foods, avoiding sugar, and eliminating ultra-processed foods. While much of the 2025-2030 guidelines stay the same, the new iteration removes alcohol recommendations and now heavily emphasizes red meat, increased protein consumption, and saturated fats.

Aside from these headline items, the new guidelines are closely aligned with previous science-backed recommendations, which promote a balanced diet complete with whole fruits, vegetables, proteins, dairy, and grains.

Why Nutrition Guidelines Are Important 

U.S. dietary guidelines serve as an educational—and often, aspirational—tool so everyday Americans can understand what constitutes a healthy diet. They also, importantly, inform how public institutions like schools, nursing homes, and prisons feed those in their care. Both the American Heart Association and the American Medical Association have applauded the document’s emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and whole foods.

What Public Health Experts Are Saying

“I’m glad to see a strong push toward whole, minimally processed foods and limits on added sugars and sodium—those changes align with decades of research,” says Karen Siegel, PhD, a researcher with Emory’s Global Diabetes Research Center. “What gives me pause is the mixed messaging around full-fat dairy and red meat. Without clear context, people may interpret that as a green light for saturated fat.”

Siegel notes that a decreased emphasis on plant-forward protein patterns conflicts with sustainability and chronic disease prevention goals. She also says the presentation of the inverted food pyramid also downplays the importance of whole grains, which can be a healthy source of fiber and is vital for cardiovascular and metabolic health.

As far as putting these recommendations to practice goes, Siegel says moving away from ultra-processed foods is a positive step, but it will require major investment in kitchens, staff training, and procurement systems.

“For SNAP recipients, the challenge is affordability and access. Guidelines alone won’t change diets unless we pair them with education, retailer support, and agricultural production changes.”