MAHA Recommends Fewer Added Sugars, Processed Foods

• Federal officials have released the 2026–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• The new food pyramid recommends increasing daily consumption of protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, while decreasing the amount of refined carbohydrates, sugars, and highly processed foods.
• Experts say the revised guidelines offer helpful nutrition advice, but they are concerned about the inclusion of red meat as a primary protein source.

The new inverted food pyramid structure places dairy products, such as cheese, near the top, while encouraging a reduction in highly processed foods, carbohydrates, and sugars, which are positioned near the bottom.

The 10-page guidelines also mark a shift from current alcohol recommendations, making them more generalized as opposed to specific limits on how many drinks per day males and females should have.

“These guidelines return us to the basics,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a statement. “American households must prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods — protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains — and dramatically reduce highly processed foods. This is how we Make America Healthy Again.”

The new MAHA guidelines have been met with both widespread criticism and general praise.

In a statement, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine commended the new guidelines for limiting certain fats and alcohol consumption while emphasizing the importance of fruits and vegetables.

However, the group expressed concerns about the recommendations regarding meat and dairy products. They said they are also worried about the influence certain industries may have had on the guideline decisions.

“The guidelines are right to limit cholesterol-raising saturated (“bad”) fat,” said Neal Barnard, MD, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. “But they should spell out where it comes from: dairy products and meat, primarily. And here the guidelines err in promoting meat and dairy products, which are principal drivers of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity.”

The American Heart Association (AHA) generally found RFK Jr.’s new guidelines to be on the right track.

“The American Heart Association welcomes the new dietary guidelines and commends the inclusion of several important science-based recommendations, notably the emphasis on increasing intake of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains while limiting consumption of added sugars, refined grains, highly processed foods, saturated fats, and sugary drinks,” the association said in a statement.

Mir Ali, MD, a general surgeon, bariatric surgeon, and medical director of the MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in California, said he generally supports the guidelines.

“I like that they emphasize proteins and vegetables over carbohydrates and sugars,” Ali told Healthline. “Overall, they’re a step in the right direction.”

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are a federal nutrition recommendation that is updated every five years.

The dietary guidelines outline several recommendations. Among them:

• Prioritize protein at every meal.
• Consume full-fat dairy with no added sugars.
• Eat vegetables and fruits throughout the day, focusing on whole foods.
• Incorporate healthy fats from whole foods such as meats, seafood, eggs, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocados.
• Focus on whole grains while sharply reducing refined carbohydrates.

One of the key recommendations in the new guidelines is to increase Americans’ daily protein consumption from 0.36 grams per pound of body weight to 0.54 to 0.73 grams per pound of body weight.

Federal health officials urge Americans to include protein-rich foods in every meal.

The American Heart Association (AHA), however, stated that more research is needed on protein consumption before people begin changing their diets.

“Pending that research, we encourage consumers to prioritize plant-based proteins, seafood, and lean meats and to limit high fat animal products, including red meat, butter, lard, and tallow, which are linked to increased cardiovascular risk,” the AHA said in its statement.

The new guidelines also urged Americans to sharply limit their intake of added sugars or non-nutritive sweeteners, saying “no amount” is considered part of a healthy diet. It states that no meal should consist of more than 10 grams, or about 2 teaspoons, of added sugar.

The federal officials also targeted “highly processed” foods and refined carbohydrates, urging Americans to avoid “packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat or other foods that are salty or sweet, such as chips, cookies and candy.”

Ali said this recommendation is “a very good addition” to the guidelines.

The new guidelines alter previous recommendations that limited alcohol to one drink or less per day for females and two drinks or less per day for males.

The new recommendations advise Americans to “consume less alcohol for better health.”

The guidelines also state that alcohol should be avoided by pregnant people, people recovering from alcohol use disorder, those who are taking medications or have medical conditions that can interact with alcohol, and those who are unable to control the amount they drink.

Ali said it’s best to avoid alcohol in general, but believes that abstinence is unrealistic drinking is often synonymous with socialization. “Minimizing alcohol is a good goal,” he said.

Ali said that consumers can make informed choices within the guidelines to achieve a balanced diet.

He noted that protein can help build muscle, but it’s important to choose good sources.

“Red meat isn’t necessarily bad as long as it’s not overdone,” Ali said, adding that other sources of protein, such as chicken, fish, lentils, beans, and nuts, might be better choices.

“These are all good sources of protein,” he said.

Ali noted that vegetables in general are a good component of a healthy diet, although he added that “starchy” vegetables, such as potatoes and corn, should be consumed in moderation.

He added that fruits contain a lot of good nutrients, but they also can contain high levels of sugar. He said berries are a better choice compared to apples and bananas.

Ali further recommended limiting the intake of carbohydrate-laden foods such as bread, pasta, and rice.

“It’s important to emphasize lean protein and non-starchy vegetables,” he said.

“The new guidelines deliver a clear, common-sense message to the American people: eat real food,” HHS officials wrote in their statement.