New dietary guidelines 2026: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., introducing recommendations that emphasize higher protein intake, reduced sugar consumption, and fewer ultra-processed foods. The guidelines also relax previous limits on alcoholic beverages.
During a White House press briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the new guidelines align with President Trump’s domestic pledge to “Make American Healthy Again.”
“As secretary of Health and Human Services, my message is clear: eat real food,” Kennedy said, describing the changes as the “most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in history.”
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said the updated guidance encourages families and schools to focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods.
“That means more protein, more dairy, more healthy fats, more whole grains, more fruits and vegetables, whether they are fresh, frozen, canned or dry. We are finally putting real food back at the center of the American diet,” Rollins said.
Ultra-processed foods are largely factory-made products created from refined ingredients and additives such as colorings and preservatives, with little to no whole foods included.
These foods often rely on artificial flavors and sweeteners to enhance taste and shelf life. They are typically high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats while lacking essential nutrients and fiber.
Kennedy said federal policy had “turned a blind eye to the disastrous consequences” of promoting and subsidizing highly processed foods and refined carbohydrates.
“The hard truth is that our government has been lying to us to protect corporate profit-taking, telling us that these food-like substances were beneficial to public health,” Kennedy said.
“Today, the lies stop,” he added. “New guidelines recognize that whole nutrient-dense food is the most effective path to better health and lower health care costs.”
The revised recommendations also remove previous restrictions on alcohol consumption, which had advised limiting intake to one to two drinks per day.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture jointly publish the Dietary Guidelines every five years. The latest update, which affects school lunches, medical guidance, and nutrition standards, has been anticipated since summer.
