The Trump administration has released new federal dietary guidelines that recommend Americans consume more protein, reduce added sugar, and avoid highly processed foods.
Issued jointly by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, the guidelines represent the latest initiative under the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
Officials said the revisions are intended to simplify dietary advice and promote long-term public health outcomes.
The guidance is published every five years and serves as the foundation for federal nutrition programs, medical counseling, and disease prevention strategies.
The administration framed the changes as a response to rising rates of chronic disease linked to diet.
The new guidelines increase recommended protein intake for adults to 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight per day, up from the previous recommendation of 0.8 grams.
They also encourage consumption of full-fat dairy without added sugars, reversing decades of guidance favoring low-fat or fat-free options.
Added sugars are strongly discouraged, with the guidelines stating that no amount is considered part of a healthy diet.
If consumed, added sugars should not exceed 10 grams per meal.
The longstanding recommendation to limit alcohol intake to specific daily amounts has been removed, replaced with broader advice that adults should consume less alcohol for better health.
Recommendations to prioritize fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and to cap saturated fat at 10 percent of daily calories, remain unchanged.
“Today, our government declares war on added sugar,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said during a White House briefing.
The guidelines shape nutrition standards for school meals serving nearly 30 million children and influence programs such as SNAP and WIC.
They advise avoiding highly processed foods and products containing artificial flavors or dyes, while emphasizing nutrient-dense, home-prepared meals.
Federal officials said the guidance reflects sound science and will support improved public health as it is implemented.
The American Medical Association praised the focus on processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages, citing links to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
The administration’s MAHA Commission has also signaled plans to reform how future dietary guidelines are developed, including changes to advisory committees.
Critics have previously argued that such committees are overly influenced by the food industry.