The New Dietary Guidelines for Americans: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with over 25 years of experience, I analyze the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, highlighting what they get right, what they get wrong, and why industry influence still shapes national nutrition advice.
The Trump administration released the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and I have a few things to say.
First of all, I have never considered the U.S. dietary guidelines a good system. For one, they are influenced by certain industries, and these new guidelines are no exception. They tend to sit in a vague middle ground that, honestly, as a registered dietitian with over 25 years of experience, I realized very early on, even when I was still in college, that it is not conducive to a healthy or sustainable way of eating. I was raised on the authentic Mediterranean diet and later studied it in depth. During that period, I adopted the Mediterranean diet pyramid developed in the early 1990s to guide my patients and educate the public. So to be clear, I have never thought the U.S. dietary guidelines were something people should follow.
The Good
Now let’s start with the good.
The most obvious positive is the recommendation to avoid highly processed foods and refined carbohydrates. The U.S. diet is over 70% ultra-processed foods, and there are numerous studies pointing to their negative effects. Unfortunately, many health professionals and associations have strong ties to producers of ultra-processed foods. Convenience is often used as an excuse, with claims that people don’t have the time or money to eat better foods. I believe that is simply an excuse. This recommendation is a strong plus.
Another positive is that grains and starches are no longer presented as the primary food group, as they once were in the old food pyramid or plate, where they formed the base and were meant to be consumed the most. Even when people think of the Mediterranean diet as high in carbohydrates, usually because they think of pasta, the authentic Mediterranean diet is actually about 40% carbohydrates.
The Bad
Now for the bad.
First, they talk about reducing alcohol but don’t specify how much alcohol is acceptable once you do drink. Yes, within the Mediterranean diet, wine is a component, but this does not take into account genetics, personal history, or other risk factors. Saying “less alcohol” is vague. For some people, less alcohol could mean three glasses of wine instead of a bottle, which does not necessarily make it healthy. There should be clear limits.
Another issue, which I would actually call wrong rather than bad, is how they discuss healthy fats. They mention healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids, but then lump fats from meat, such as beef tallow, into the same category. These fats are not the same as the fats found in olive oil, and this comparison is not accurate. Extra virgin olive oil is rich in polyphenols these other fats are not.
In addition, they state that saturated fat should not exceed 10% of total daily calories. However, their recommendations contradict this. If you are eating meat and whole-fat dairy products in the amounts recommended, you will easily surpass 10% saturated fat intake. Either this needs to be corrected, or consumers are expected to ignore it.
The Ugly
Finally, the ugly.
The biggest problem is prioritizing meat at the top of the pyramid and presenting it as a main component of the diet. Red meat, cheese, and poultry should not be among the largest food groups. Research clearly shows that high meat intake is associated with many chronic diseases. Even the older guidelines had too much meat, but in these new guidelines the recommendations have doubled.
One of the reasons the Mediterranean diet followed in the 1950s and 1960s was so healthy is precisely because meat was rarely consumed. In fact, people fasted from meat for over 200 days a year. That is the authentic Mediterranean diet. Adding more meat is leading the public to more disease, it’s that simple.
When I first saw these guidelines, I thought the same thing I’ve thought about every U.S. guideline before them: they continue to cater to the dairy and meat industries. This is evident when you look at the authors’ ties. Many have financial relationships with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the National Dairy Council and more. This is not surprising.
These guidelines are not driven by science or evidence. They are driven by industry interests, personal opinions, and dietary trends.
Beyond Opinion and Industry Interests: What the Evidence Actually Supports
Among all dietary patterns studied to date, the authentic Mediterranean diet has the strongest and most consistent body of evidence supporting its role in protecting from chronic disease and promoting longevity. This is not based on opinion or trends, but on decades of research. Decades. Unlike many modern diets, its effectiveness has been demonstrated in free-living populations over generations. When followed as traditionally practiced, it outperforms other dietary patterns in both health outcomes and long-term adherence. If the goal is evidence-based nutrition, this is not a debate.
Knowing what to eat can still be tricky. The articles below provide practical, research-backed guidance on the authentic Mediterranean diet.
Photo Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (public domain)
