They want red meat to take a back seat.
A U.S. nutrition panel has issued new recommendations for the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines, emphasizing healthier food choices for Americans. The guidelines advise increasing the consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, fish, and unsaturated fats, while reducing intake of red and processed meats, starchy vegetables, refined grains, and added sugars. The panel also encourages limiting sodium, saturated fats, and sugar-sweetened foods. However, the experts refrained from making specific recommendations about ultraprocessed foods, citing insufficient evidence, despite some studies suggesting a link between these foods and health issues like obesity.
The 20-member advisory group took a “health equity” approach, considering factors like income, race, and culture when crafting dietary advice. They aim to ensure the guidelines are relevant to diverse population groups. This marks a shift in the way dietary advice is presented, acknowledging that different communities may face unique challenges in accessing healthy food. The panel’s recommendations, however, did not tackle the growing concern about ultraprocessed foods, which make up a large portion of the American diet. Research links these foods to weight gain and other health issues, but the panel found the evidence too limited to make specific recommendations.
In addition, the panel chose not to revise the existing alcohol guidelines, which suggest limiting alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day for men and one for women. This issue will be revisited once additional reports on alcohol consumption are released by external organizations. The decision to maintain the current recommendations comes after the 2020 guidelines rejected proposals to reduce alcohol consumption further.
Despite these recommendations, the panel acknowledged that many Americans are not following the current guidelines, with over half of U.S. adults dealing with diet-related chronic health conditions. This ongoing public health issue is compounded by food insecurity, affecting millions of households. The panel’s recommendations are intended to address these challenges and improve the overall health of the nation.
The final version of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines will be shaped by these initial recommendations, which are now open for public comment. After considering public feedback, the guidelines will be finalized by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture. These updated guidelines are part of the ongoing effort to tackle diet-related diseases and promote healthier eating habits across the country.
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