What's happened
The Biden administration has released new dietary guidelines emphasizing whole foods, including saturated fats like butter and beef tallow, while relaxing previous restrictions on processed foods and saturated fats. The move aligns with the 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda, sparking debate among nutrition experts about scientific basis and policy implications.
What's behind the headline?
The new dietary guidelines represent a significant departure from previous science-based recommendations, emphasizing 'real food' and saturated fats like butter and beef tallow. This approach appears driven by political motives aligned with Kennedy's 'Make America Healthy Again' movement, which advocates for increased consumption of animal fats and less regulation of processed foods.
- The guidelines omit the usual warnings about saturated fats, suggesting they can be part of a healthy diet, which contradicts decades of scientific evidence linking saturated fats to cardiovascular disease.
- The omission of ultraprocessed foods and seed oils, despite their known health impacts, indicates a selective interpretation of nutrition science.
- The divergence from the recommendations of the expert scientific panel signals a politicization of dietary advice, potentially undermining public health efforts.
The impact of these changes will likely be seen in federal nutrition programs, especially school meals and SNAP, where new standards could increase access to saturated fats and processed foods. This may exacerbate health disparities and contribute to rising chronic disease rates, unless countered by public health initiatives. The move also risks confusing policymakers and consumers, given the lack of clear definitions for terms like 'ultra-processed.' Overall, this shift signals a politicized redefinition of healthy eating, with uncertain long-term health consequences.
What the papers say
The New York Times reports that the new guidelines, issued by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Brooke Rollins, emphasize eating more saturated fats and whole foods, while downplaying processed foods and seed oils. Critics argue that these changes ignore established science linking saturated fats to heart disease. The Independent highlights Kennedy's push for a simplified, consumer-friendly document that diverges from expert recommendations, raising concerns about scientific integrity. The NY Post notes the guidelines' potential to influence federal programs like school lunches and SNAP, aiming to reduce chronic diseases but risking increased consumption of unhealthy fats. Business Insider UK emphasizes the political motivations behind the revisions, with Kennedy's 'Make America Healthy Again' movement shaping policy shifts that challenge traditional dietary advice.
How we got here
The new guidelines follow a five-year review process, which traditionally relies on scientific consensus. However, the Biden administration, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has pushed for a more lenient stance on saturated fats and processed foods, diverging from longstanding dietary advice. This shift is part of Kennedy's broader effort to overhaul US nutrition policy and address chronic health issues like obesity and diabetes, which cost the country hundreds of billions annually.
Go deeper
More on these topics
-
Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. (born January 17, 1954), also known by his initials RFK Jr., is an American politician, environmental lawyer, author, conspiracy theorist, and anti-vaccine activist serving as the 26th United States secretary of health and human
-
The United States Department of Agriculture, also known as the Agriculture Department, is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food.
-
The United States Department of Health & Human Services, also known as the Health Department, is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the U.S. federal government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential
-
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) provide nutritional advice for Americans who are healthy or who are at risk for chronic disease but do not currently have chronic disease. The Guidelines are published every five years by the US Department of...
-
Brooke Leslie Rollins is an American attorney who served as the acting director of the United States Domestic Policy Council under President Donald Trump. Prior to assuming that role, Rollins oversaw the White House Office of American Innovation.