Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a sweeping overhaul of federal nutrition policy, declaring what he described as a “war on added sugar” and signaling a decisive break from decades of government-endorsed dietary guidance. The newly released 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods, protein, and healthy fats while rejecting long-standing restrictions on saturated fats.

Speaking from the White House, Kennedy accused past federal health policies of misleading the public in order to protect corporate profit-making at the expense of Americans’ health. He stated plainly that the era of deceptive nutrition guidance is over, arguing that processed foods and sugar-heavy products have fueled a nationwide surge in metabolic disease, obesity, and chronic illness.

The new guidelines emphasize eating real food as the most effective path to better health. Protein and healthy fats are identified as essential components of a healthy diet, while added sugars—particularly sugar-sweetened beverages—are singled out as major drivers of insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Kennedy framed the changes as a correction to policies that previously encouraged overconsumption of refined carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods.

The announcement marks a significant philosophical shift in federal health policy. For decades, Americans were told to avoid fats while relying heavily on low-fat, sugar-rich alternatives. The revised guidance rejects that model, asserting that nutrient density matters more than calorie counting and that naturally occurring fats have been unfairly demonized.

Coordinated with the Department of Agriculture, the updated guidelines will directly impact federal food programs serving tens of millions of Americans, including school lunch programs, military facilities, and veterans’ hospitals. Supporters say the changes could dramatically improve public health outcomes by reshaping what government-funded institutions serve every day.

Kennedy’s message was unambiguous: Americans deserve honesty about nutrition, not corporate talking points disguised as science. By calling on citizens to “eat real food,” the administration is positioning health reform as a cornerstone of its broader agenda to restore accountability, reduce chronic disease, and put people ahead of special interests.