D.C. — Six months after the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans were released, a new Physicians Committee/Morning Consult poll finds that while most U.S. adults are aware of the Dietary Guidelines, just 18% say they have changed their diet based on the recommendations.
The latest Dietary Guidelines’ key recommendations include prioritizing protein (with an emphasis on meat and animal products), consuming dairy (with an emphasis on full-fat dairy), eating vegetables and fruits, focusing on whole grains, limiting highly processed foods, and keeping saturated fat consumption below 10% of total daily calories
The poll, which included 2,205 U.S. adults, found that among those who have adjusted their diet based on the Dietary Guidelines, the top five changes they have made are:
- Consuming more fruits (48%)
- Consuming more vegetables (45%)
- Reducing processed foods (42%)
- Prioritizing fiber-rich whole grains (40%)
- Limiting saturated fat (40%)
Just 28% said they are prioritizing protein from animal
“The good news is that Americans are following the Dietary Guidelines’ recommendations to eat more fruits, veggies, and grains and to avoid saturated fat,” says Anna Herby, DHSc, RD, CDCES, nutrition education specialist for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, “and they are ignoring recommendations to consume animal protein and full-fat dairy products, which can increase the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.”
A majority of those polled were aware of the recommendation to reduce processed food intake. Dr. Herby says that while processed meats and other animal products can increase the risk of diet-related diseases, plant-based processed foods like bread, cereal, and veggie burgers are actually beneficial against heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other health conditions.
Most surveyed were also aware of the Dietary Guidelines’ recommendation to consume more protein. Of those following the recommendation, the majority are eating more eggs (75%) and nuts and seeds (70%). While nuts and seeds are a healthyrt disease, diabetes, and breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers.
Research also shows that diets high in animal protein in general are linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, death from chronic disease, and other health concerns, but replacing animal protein with plant protein can help protect against these conditions
“Instead of eggs and other animal products, Americans who want to boost their protein intake should be eating more beans,” says Dr. Herby. “Beans are rich in both protein and fiber—a nutrient most Americans aren’t getting enough of.”
Despite the fact that the report used to create the Dietary Guidelines was written by authors with ties to the meat and dairy industries, 43% of those surveyed said that industry influence did not impact their trust in the Dietary Guidelines
“Americans should be concerned that industry influenced the Dietary Guidelines to recommend animal products that are driving the nation’s diet-related disease epidemics,” says Dr. Herby, “while the original scientific recommendations to consume a more plant-based diet were left out.”
The industry-influenced report replaced an earlier scientific report that recommended that the Dietary Guidelines “include more nutrient-dense plant-based meal and dietary recommendation options.”
The Dietary Guidelines—issued every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services—shape federal food programs and nutrition messaging nationwide, including school meals and other public nutrition initiatives
