US diet rules receive a nutritionist's verdict and criticism

The new US dietary guidance, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., shifts emphasis toward higher protein, avoiding ultra-processed foods and reframing fats; UK nutritionist Professor Thomas Sanders praised some points but called aspects such as the higher protein targets and certain fat recommendations 'nonsense'.

The US has released updated national dietary guidance that reorders the traditional food pyramid to prioritise protein, take a firmer stance against ultra-processed foods, and change how fats are discussed. The move has attracted attention because it contrasts with existing UK advice and comes amid high rates of overweight and heavy consumption of processed foods in both countries. Some nutrition experts have welcomed the changes, while others have questioned specific recommendations and the clarity of some terms used. Key points: - The US guidance promotes higher protein intake, recommending 1.2g to 1.8g of protein per kilogram of body weight per day for adults, compared with the UK's guidance of about 0.8g/kg. - The US recommends three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit per day; UK guidance advises at least five 80g portions of fruit and vegetables daily. - The US encourages two to four servings of wholegrains per day; UK advice encourages choosing wholegrain options but does not set a specific wholegrain serving target. - The US advises avoiding ultra-processed foods (UPFs); UK guidance instead highlights limiting foods high in fat, salt and sugar and does not use the UPF label. - The US restates a 10% limit on saturated fat as a share of calories but also mentions cooking with saturated fats such as butter or tallow; Professor Thomas Sanders described the guidance on fat as "nonsense" and disagreed with the higher protein targets. - The guidance recommends avoiding sugar-sweetened drinks, suggests a 10g-per-meal cap on added sugars, and advises consuming less alcohol without setting precise new limits. Summary: Experts are divided over the new US dietary rules: some commentators and clinicians described certain shifts as welcome, while other nutrition scientists raised concerns about specific numeric targets and unclear definitions. The guidance differs in several concrete ways from UK recommendations on protein, wholegrains and processing labels. Undetermined at this time.