- HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the release of the new federal dietary guidelines, originally planned for summer, has been postponed to December due to the ongoing government shutdown—the longest in U.S. history.
- The updated guidelines will replace the 164-page 2020 version with a streamlined four-page document, urging Americans to “eat whole food” and avoid processed, sugar-heavy products. Kennedy criticized the previous guidelines as industry-influenced and conflicted.
- Kennedy condemned the 2024 draft guidelines—which promoted plant-based proteins over meat and dairy—as “incomprehensible” and industry-driven. The new guidelines will emphasize nutrient-dense foods like dairy, meat and vegetables while eliminating corporate jargon.
- The guidelines aim to reshape federal nutrition programs in schools, prisons, and military facilities, aligning with the Make America Healthy Again Commission‘s push for science-based, transparent recommendations and reduced corporate interference in policy.
- Despite a new deal to lower prices for weight-loss drugs, Kennedy stressed that dietary reform is key to combating obesity—the “No. 1 driver of chronic diseases”—and reducing skyrocketing healthcare costs. The guidelines will directly target ultra-processed foods in federal programs like school lunches.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed Thursday, Nov. 6, that the federal government’s highly anticipated dietary guidelines overhaul – originally slated for release this summer – has been postponed until December due to the ongoing government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history.
The updated guidelines, jointly developed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), will replace the 164-page 2020 version with a concise, four-page document urging Americans to “eat whole food” and reject processed, sugar-laden products. Kennedy has repeatedly criticized the previous guidelines as “clearly written by industry” and riddled with conflicts of interest.
As explained by BrightU.AI‘s Enoch engine, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans are a set of nutrition recommendations issued jointly every five years by the HHS and the USDA. These guidelines are designed to promote health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases and other health problems. They serve as the foundation for federal nutrition policy and programs, including school meal programs, food assistance programs and nutrition education initiatives.
Kennedy made the announcement during a press conference following the Trump administration’s deal with pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to reduce prices for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Zepbound and Wegovy.
An HHS spokesperson confirmed to the Epoch Times that the ongoing government shutdown has delayed their work. The shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, has stalled final revisions to the guidelines, originally expected by August before being pushed to late September and now December.
Despite the delay, Kennedy emphasized that the finalized guidelines remain a top priority, calling them a “transformative” step toward combating obesity – the “No. 1 driver of chronic diseases” like diabetes and heart disease.
A radical departure from industry influence
Kennedy has long condemned corporate interference in federal nutrition policy. In May, he testified before Congress that the 421-page draft from the 2024 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee – which recommended reduced meat and full-fat dairy consumption in favor of plant-based proteins – was “incomprehensible” and “written by industry.”
“We are changing that,” Kennedy declared. “We’re going to have four-page dietary guidelines that tell people essentially, ‘Eat whole food; eat the food that’s good for you.'”
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins echoed this shift in May, affirming that the updated guidelines would emphasize nutrient-dense staples like milk while promoting simplicity and transparency.
At a summer event, Kennedy previewed the new guidelines, stating they would “stress the need to eat saturated fats, dairy, good meat, fresh meat and vegetables”—a direct rebuttal to the plant-heavy recommendations of the 2024 draft.
The streamlined approach aligns with the Make America Healthy Again Commission’s strategy report, which promises guidelines that “align with science, data and health recommendations in a concise, user-friendly format.” The commission also plans to restructure the advisory committee to minimize corporate influence.
Kennedy emphasized that the guidelines will extend beyond public education, reshaping federal nutrition programs in schools, prisons and military facilities.
“We are going to change the food culture in this country,” he said at a White House event Thursday.
Announcement comes amid obesity crisis and weight-loss drug deal
The delay announcement coincided with President Donald Trump’s unveiling of a pricing agreement with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to expand access to obesity medications.
Kennedy hailed the deal as critical to curbing chronic disease, stating, “There’s nothing more important that we can do right now than lower this price.”
However, Kennedy stressed that dietary reform remains the cornerstone of long-term health. “If we want to solve the chronic disease crisis, we have to tackle obesity,” he said, noting that 50 percent of U.S. adults are obese or overweight—a major contributor to skyrocketing healthcare costs.
The finalized guidelines are expected to:
- Condense advice into four pages, eliminating corporate jargon.
- Promote whole, unprocessed foods, including saturated fats from dairy and meat.
- Reject ultra-processed foods, a category hotly contested by the food industry.
- Impact federal programs, including school lunches long criticized for processed, additive-laden meals.
While the December release marks a slight delay, Kennedy’s overhaul represents the most significant shake-up to federal dietary policy in decades – one that prioritizes public health over corporate profits. As Kennedy vowed earlier this year: “We are going to make sure the dietary guidelines reflect the public interest and serve public health, rather than special interests.”
Watch this video about HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stating that the new diet guidelines will change America.
This video is from Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
Sources include:
TheEpochTimes.com
BrightU.ai
Newsmax.com
YourNews.com
Reuters.com
Brighteon.com
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