New food pyramid is a recipe for health disasters
The meat industry celebration of the Trump administration Dietary Guidelines for Americans This should be a clear sign that these new guidelines are not meant for people.
It is true that “the United States is in the midst of a health emergency,” as Secretaries Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Brooke Rollins put it. State. However, by claiming to be an answer to the diet-related illnesses plaguing our country, their guidelines constitute an alarming rejection of real science. Not only are they flipping the food pyramid, encouraging us to eat more high-fat dairy products, but they’re even promoting red meat. The truth hasn’t changed: Eating more red meat and dairy leads to more chronic diseases, not fewer.
Oxford researchers have found that eating red meat, even unprocessed varieties, has harmful effects. increase the risk of heart disease. And according to the World Health Organization, some studies show that processed red meat is a carcinogeniccan lead to colorectal cancer.
Eating protein “with every meal” is emphasized in the latest guidelines, and while protein intake is indeed a crucial part of any diet, experts widely believe it has been overestimated in this country. Most Americans already consume far more protein than they need. Additionally, plant foods such as edamame, lentils, peas, nuts, seeds, and legumes provide a healthy source of cholesterol-free protein found only in animal products.
Whole-food plant proteins are also generally very low in saturated fat, which has long been associated with an increased risk of heart disease and high cholesterol. Although previous USDA Dietary Guidelines recommended limiting saturated fats to only 10 percent or less of daily calories, Kennedy continues to promote their consumption. The new guidelines go so far as to call beef tallow a “healthy fat,” despite its risks. Whole cow’s milk is also high in saturated fat, and dairy products have been linked to a higher risk of certain types of cancer, including breast and prostate cancer.
At the same time, plant-based diets have been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and deathand those that are high in fiber have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. The American Cancer Society actually associates low fruit and vegetable consumption with almost a third cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus and larynx.
Government guidance should not ignore years of nutrition science aimed at supporting the meat and dairy industry. Fortunately, other institutions provide more evidence-based and accountable recommendations. For example, the New American plate of the American Institute for Cancer Research recommends that two-thirds or more of the plate be filled with vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains, and that animal-based proteins take up one-third or less. The American Heart Assn. “encourages adults get most of their protein from plants. The World Health Organization suggests ditching saturated fats, which should make up “less than 10 percent of total energy intake,” and notes that eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer.
Meanwhile, according to the Food and Drug Administrationsales of antibiotics for farm animals increased by 16% in 2024 compared to the previous year. More and more of these drugs are heading to factory farms, where 99% of livestock in the United States are raised. When used in excess, these drugs – along with hormones used to promote animal growth – eventually end up in meat consumed by the public, leading to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that kill approximately 35,000 Americans per yearaccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“For decades, federal incentives have favored low-quality, highly processed foods and pharmaceutical interventions over prevention,” Kennedy and Rollins write. But make no mistake: These guidelines demonstrate that the federal government continues to promote unhealthy foods, benefiting agribusiness and endangering public health.
Mentions of vegetarian and vegan diets are kept to a small section at the end that focuses primarily on “nutritional deficiencies” rather than suggesting ways to adopt a healthy plant-based diet. can meet their nutritional needs and even promote better health.
The new guidelines include several positive recommendations, including “eating real foods” (whole, unprocessed) and limiting consumption of highly processed foods, sugar and alcohol. Instead of stoking fear about plant-based meat alternatives or repeating buzz phrases like “ultra-processed foods,” which should be limited in any diet, our government should be recommending a diet backed by science.
“Together we can shift our food system from chronic disease to nutrient density, nourishment, resilience and long-term health. » to write Kennedy and Rollins. Yes, we can – if the federal government shifts its funding and promotion from unhealthy animal products to whole, plant-based foods.
Gene Baur is president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary.
