After releasing the Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee for development of the next iteration of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the USDA opened a public comment period to collect feedback, which ended on Feb 10th. The Nutrition Policy Institute and multiple Academics from UCCE submitted comments with evidence-based recommendations. As the Community Nutrition and Health Advisor for Central Sierra, I submitted a comment recommending the following:
-A dietary pattern rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, and whole grains; and limited red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, refined grains, and saturated fat. This is associated with numerous health benefits and can be modified to meet individual cultural, religious, dietary, and budget needs and preferences. Increased intake of beans, peas, and lentils to replace red and processed meats has consistent and clear health benefits.
-Water as the primary beverage to optimize health, not dairy. The singular categorization of dairy as an essential food group is not supported by evidence. Dairy is the leading allergen in children in the US, so it would be more appropriate to integrate dairy as one option within the protein category rather than maintaining it as a standalone recommendation. This adjustment would afford Americans greater flexibility in meeting their nutritional needs while acknowledging alternative, culturally relevant sources of essential nutrients. The DGA should reflect the fact that all nutrients found in dairy, including nutrients of concern such as calcium, potassium, and protein, are easily obtained from non-dairy sources such as leafy greens, legumes, nuts, seeds, and fortified plant-based alternatives.
-The DGA must support policy, systems, and environmental strategies to ensure Americans' ability to follow a healthy diet. Recommendations to the food industry and food retailers on how to make nutrient dense food more accessible for all Americans—by reducing sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar in the food supply— should be included.
Be on the lookout for the revised Dietary Guidelines, which could feature multiple changes that will affect how people purchase, prepare, and consume their food.