The recently unveiled food pyramid within U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) has raised significant concerns among health and environmental experts. The updated guidelines elevate animal-based proteins, particularly those high in saturated fats like cheese and red meats, above plant-based proteins, leading to alarm bells over potential health implications.

This revised food pyramid aligns with Kennedy’s earlier indications that his “Make America Healthy Again” movement would advocate for an increase in dietary saturated fats. Dr. Cheryl Anderson, a member of the American Heart Association’s board and a professor at the University of California San Diego, expressed eagerness to review the new guidelines, noting their late release—typically expected within six months after the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s report. This delay has sparked concerns about the timeliness of public health recommendations.

While Dr. Anderson found some alignment with the committee’s report, particularly regarding the emphasis on consuming “real food” and reducing processed foods and added sugars, she expressed worries over the prominent depiction of steak and cheese in the food pyramid. This visual representation contradicts the written guidelines on saturated fats, complicating the message for the American public.

“It will be a challenge to keep saturated fat intake within 10% of overall kilocalories,” Anderson stated. “To me, that’s a confusing message.”

Chloë Waterman, Senior Program Manager at Friends of the Earth, echoed these concerns, pointing out that the guidelines appear contradictory. She attributed the lack of clarity to a potential attempt to satisfy various stakeholders, including public health advocates and proponents of the Maha movement.

Waterman emphasized that the brevity of the updated guidelines—only 10 pages compared to previous iterations that spanned hundreds—contributes to the confusion. “Previous versions were comprehensive, while these simplified guidelines might dilute important messages,” she warned, highlighting the environmental implications of increased meat consumption.

Waterman noted that ongoing high levels of meat consumption have severe environmental consequences. “Americans already exceed recommended protein intake, making us one of the highest meat-consuming countries globally,” she explained. The resource-intensive nature of industrial animal agriculture amplifies detrimental effects on the planet.

She pointed out that sourcing calories from animal products leads to significant deforestation for animal feed and increases methane emissions, a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. “Shifting towards more plant-based diets aligns health benefits with environmental needs,” Waterman concluded, criticizing the new guidelines for steering in the opposite direction.

While it’s uncertain how the revised guidelines will influence adult eating behaviors—given past iterations have often been ignored—Waterman noted that there could be a notable shift due to increased public interest in meat and dairy consumption. Her primary concern lies with the potential impact on school lunches, underscoring that children, who have no control over their dietary choices, could be significantly affected.

Waterman called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create regulations that align school lunches with the DGA, a process that may take years to realize. She anticipates challenges in increasing meat content in school lunches without exceeding recommended limits on saturated fat, warning of dire health consequences, including rising rates of diet-related chronic diseases among children.

Though Kennedy has positioned the reduction of childhood obesity as a key element of his initiative, the promotion of full-fat dairy and red meat as depicted in the food pyramid risks undermining these efforts. “We’re heading toward a significant public health dilemma if these guidelines are implemented without careful consideration,” Waterman cautioned.