Federal Dietary Guidelines Undergoing Major Overhaul, HHS and USDA Announce

The United States is gearing up for a significant shift in its dietary guidelines as the "Make America Healthy Again" commission convened its first meeting this week, led by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The agenda? A complete "line-by-line" review of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released under the Biden Administration last year.

Secretary Rollins expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, applauding former President Trump for his "bold leadership" in promoting healthier lifestyles. Rollins stated her commitment to working across government agencies to foster healthier choices and outcomes for American families. Just a reminder, though—politicians can talk the talk, but we’ll see if they walk the walk when those guidelines hit the shelves.

In a joint press release, the USDA and HHS assured the public that the upcoming 2025-2030 report would be delivered before the year-end deadline. The agencies also promised a "holistic process" to improve transparency and reduce conflicts of interest—because, let’s face it, the intersection of food industry lobbying and public health guidelines has been messier than a toddler with spaghetti.

Rollins emphasized that the new guidelines would be rooted in "sound science" rather than "political science," taking a swipe at previous administrations. Kennedy chimed in, declaring this update a "giant step" toward making America the healthiest country in the world. Ambitious much? We’ll see how that pans out.

While the exact changes are still under wraps, the existing guidelines include oils like canola, corn, olive, peanut, and soybean as part of a healthy diet. However, the MAHA movement has vocally criticized the reliance on seed oils, favoring natural alternatives like beef tallow. The battle of oils continues, and it’s one of those debates where science and public opinion collide, often with a splash of drama.

Kennedy also announced plans to eliminate the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) loophole, which has allowed new ingredients and chemicals to quietly infiltrate our food supply without FDA or public notification. This move might ruffle some corporate feathers, especially since Kennedy recently met with representatives from Kraft Heinz, General Mills, Tyson Foods, and other food giants. Let’s just say this isn’t the kind of dinner table conversation they were hoping for.

As we await the revised guidelines, one thing is clear: America’s dietary landscape is poised for a shake-up. Whether this brings clarity or controversy remains to be seen, but hey, at least we’re talking about it.