Kennedy, Trump set new diet guidelines

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration on Wednesday urged Americans to avoid highly processed foods and added sugars, while promoting consumption of red meat and full-fat dairy - foods many nutritionists have long cautioned against.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., US secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), centre, speaks at the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday.

(BLOOMBERG)

The updated federal dietary guidelines place greater emphasis on protein than previous recommendations. A revised food-pyramid graphic inverts the traditional model, positioning meat, dairy and healthy fats on the same tier as fruits and vegetables, with fibre-rich whole grains such as oats at the base.

Reaction from nutritionists and public-health advocates was mixed. While the advice to cut sugar and ultra-processed foods was welcomed, critics said the emphasis on animal protein and full-fat dairy was contradictory.

"I found the whole thing to be muddled, contradictory, ideological and very retro," said Marion Nestle, professor emerita of nutrition at New York University.