‘Goes against decades of evidence’: RFK, Jr.’s new food pyramid draws backlash from heart health and nutrition groups

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced new dietary guidelines for Americans focused on promoting whole foods, proteins and healthy fats.

At a press conference on [January 7, 2026], the administration unveiled a new food pyramid with red meat, cheese, vegetables and fruits pictured at the top.

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“Protein and healthy fats are essential and were wrongly discouraged in prior dietary guidelines,” Kennedy said. “We are ending the war on saturated fats.”

“I’m very disappointed in the new pyramid that features red meat and saturated fat sources at the very top, as if that’s something to prioritize. It does go against decades and decades of evidence and research,” says Christopher Gardner, a nutrition expert at Stanford University. 

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Though most Americans don’t read the dietary guidelines, they are highly influential in determining what’s served in school meals and on military bases, as well as what’s included in federal food aid for mothers and infants, as the guidelines set targets for calories and nutrients.

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