NewsOn January 7, 2026, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins jointly unveiled the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030, styled as part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative. The revised Guidelines, published every five years, mark a significant shift in federal nutrition policy. The Guidelines broadly encourage prioritizing proteins and healthy fats while limiting highly processed foods, refined carbohydrates and foods with added sugars. According to an HHS press release, the new Guidelines emphasize the following:
- Prioritize protein at every meal
- Consume full-fat dairy with no added sugars
- Eat vegetables and fruits throughout the day, focusing on whole forms
- Incorporate healthy fats from whole foods such as meats, seafood, eggs, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocados
- Focus on whole grains, while sharply reducing refined carbohydrates
- Limit highly processed foods, added sugars, and artificial additives
- Eat the right amount for you, based on age, sex, size, and activity level
- Choose water and unsweetened beverages to support hydration
- Limit alcohol consumption for better overall health
According to HHS, previous Guidelines emphasized carbohydrates over protein. However, these revised Guidelines prioritize nutrient-dense proteins from animal sources in addition to plant-sourced proteins. The Guidelines now suggest a protein target of 1.2-1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight per day. The new Guidelines also suggest avoiding highly processed foods for the first time. Along with these changes, HHS and USDA have announced a new food pyramid:
https://realfood.gov/
These revised Guidelines impact nutrition standards for school meals, military and veteran meals, SNAP, and other nutritional programs. The Guidelines aim to prioritize health outcomes, particularly seeking to decrease the prevalence of chronic conditions, including obesity and Type 2 diabetes. HHS anticipates that improving health outcomes will likewise reduce health care costs as a result. The Dietary Guidelines will drive food contracting with publicly funded schools and other institutions, favoring those companies that offer lightly processed proteins and sources of saturated fats.
If you have questions about how these new Guidelines may affect your business, please contact your Michael Best attorney or a member of our team listed on this alert. Related People Preview Attorney's BiographyAllison assists clients with a variety of complex regulatory issues. She also counsels clients on other related business matters.Prior to joining Michael Best in her current role, Allison gained experience as a Summer Associate with the firm. Earlier, she was a law clerk at a boutique law firm in Milwaukee where she established corporations for clients and filed documents with the Department of Financial Institutions, drafted client communications and motions for the court, analyzed and made rec ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyDavid’s practice sits squarely at the intersection of the food-water-energy nexus. His work in the areas of environmental, regulatory, agricultural production, manufacturing and distribution, and renewable energy projects gives him the depth of experience necessary to counsel clients who will be feeding and powering a projected global population of nine billion people by 2050—at a time when resource scarcity and consumer confidence require an ongoing commitment to stewardship and sustainability.  Preview Attorney's BiographyFor more than 30 years, Paul has specialized in product liability defense, class action defense, multi-district litigation (MDL) defense, and other complex commercial litigation. He is particularly well known for his work in the class action and food and beverage sectors, where he is a nationally and locally recognized speaker and thought leader on product liability issues and regulatory trends.  Preview Attorney's BiographyLeah takes a big-picture approach in advising clients as they face challenges on environmental, food safety and regulatory compliance issues. She draws on experience gained in cases involving the EPA, FDA and other public agencies. Leah’s success as a counselor, litigator and negotiator reflects her combination of subject matter expertise, industry knowledge and creativity.
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