The U.S. government released the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans on January 9, 2026. For the first time, the guidelines explicitly call out "highly processed foods" as a category to avoid, including sugar-sweetened beverages and salty or sweet packaged snacks. The guidelines also tightened added sugar limits, stating that no amount of added sugar is recommended as part of a healthy diet and that no single meal should contain more than 10 grams of added sugar — down from a previous daily ceiling of roughly 50 grams (based on a 2,000-calorie diet).
The 10% daily calorie limit on saturated fat — the longstanding guideline affecting foods like red meat, butter, and full-fat dairy — remains in place, though a new pyramid graphic prominently features those same foods, which Harvard nutrition professor Frank Hu says may send mixed messages. The guidelines continue to recommend whole grains, vegetables, and fruits as dietary staples. Tracking added sugar by meal rather than by day is a new framing that differs from how most food labels and tracking tools present the information.
Comments