Dietary Guidelines Are a Mixed Bag, Says Physicians Committee

The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans got several recommendations right and several that should be modified to keep Americans healthy, according to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). Moreover, the doctors group thinks there was industry influence behind the scenes, despite the government’s press conference that claimed and decried past industry influence.

The guidelines - released Jan. 7 by Health & Human Services, USDA and FDA - “are right to limit cholesterol-raising saturated (‘bad’) fat, but they should spell out where it comes from: dairy products and meat primarily,” said Neal Barnard, MD, FACC, president of PCRM. “And here the guidelines err in promoting meat and dairy products, which are principal drivers of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.

“The guidelines take a sledgehammer approach to processed foods, but plant-based and vitamin-fortified processed foods actually reduce the risk of birth defects, diabetes, heart disease and cancer,” he added. “The guidelines have unjustly condemned highly processed foods and exonerated meat and dairy products. They should have done the reverse.”

The health advocacy group, which has 17,000 doctor members, says there are several recommendations that the DGAs got right:

• Limiting saturated (‘bad’) fat intake.
• Promoting plant-based foods, like fruits and vegetables.
• Limiting alcohol.
• Streamlining advice and removing jargon, making recommendations easy to understand.

But the guidelines should be modified to:

• Warn against animal protein, which is linked to heart disease and other chronic diseases.
• State that vegetarian and vegan diets provide all necessary nutrients, with a B12 supplement, and that plant-based processed foods are often fortified with essential nutrients and are a healthier option than animal products.
• Warn against consuming dairy products, which are often high in saturated fat and linked to breast and prostate cancers.
• Eliminate confusion on saturated fat, specifying that it is in dairy products and meat and promotes heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Recognize that some highly processed foods are healthful. These include breakfast cereals and breads, which are fortified with folic acid, vitamin B12 and other nutrients that prevent birth defects and reduce risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• Recommend water as the beverage of choice instead of milk, recognizing milk’s link to prostate cancer, breast cancer, and lactose intolerance.

PCRM points to a new report in the Annals of Internal Medicine that reaffirms saturated fat raises cholesterol and increases the risk for heart disease. The American Heart Assn. Presidential Advisory also says there is strong evidence that saturated fat raises LDL cholesterol.

The new guidelines’ increased protein recommendation is unnecessary and could be harmful if it results in eating more protein from animals. “Americans already get enough protein,” says Dr. Barnard. “If the guidelines are going to push for increased protein consumption, it should come from plants.”

A Harvard University study cited by the group showed that animal-based products were associated with 44% increased risk of diabetes, while ultraprocessed cereals were associated with 22% reduced risk.