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U.S. dietary guidelines urge Americans to avoid highly processed foods
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Tuesday, 20 January, 2026, 14 : 00 PM [IST]
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Washington, USA
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and USDA have unveiled the 2025–2030 dietary guidelines for Americans, marking a significant shift in federal nutrition policy by telling consumers to avoid highly processed packaged foods and focus on nutrient-dense whole foods.
Updated every five years, the guidelines influence dietary advice from health professionals and guide federal feeding programmes including school meals, military rations and food assistance benefits. According to the new framework, Americans are advised to steer clear of packaged, ready-to-eat foods that are salty or sweet—such as chips, cookies and candy—and minimise highly processed refined carbohydrate products like white bread and crackers.
In his remarks at the release, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. described the guidelines as “the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in history,” emphasising a return to home-prepared meals, whole proteins, fruits, vegetables and unrefined grains. He also reiterated that added sugars should be strictly limited, with a suggestion that no more than 10 grams of added sugar per meal is appropriate.
The updated recommendations also reframe how saturated fats are viewed in the diet: while encouraging consumption of sources like meat, dairy and eggs within a balanced diet, the guidelines continue to recommend that saturated fat make up no more than 10% of daily calories.
Nutrition groups have responded with mixed reactions. Many public health advocates welcomed the clearer emphasis on reducing highly processed foods in favour of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, while some medical associations have raised concerns about the guidance on high-fat animal products.
Overall, this edition of the dietary guidelines places greater priority on real, minimally processed foods and reflective eating patterns, aligning federal advice more closely with emerging scientific evidence and public health goals.
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