White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins at the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
"Faulty dietary guidelines of the past stack the deck against healthy eating and food options for everyday American families, which has fueled the chronic disease epidemic and jacked up the health care costs of households across the country," Leavitt added. "When these guidelines are followed, Americans will be saving themselves thousands of dollars. If we want to cut health care costs in our country, we must become a healthier country... A healthier America will lead to a more affordable America."
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the new guidelines with an updated, inverted food pyramid. The top of the pyramid, which is now the wider part of the structure, is built on meat, fats, fruits and vegetables, while whole grains are at the narrow bottom.
Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a press briefing with from left, Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, at the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Kennedy framed the issue as not only one about health, but also one of national security.
"If a foreign adversary sought to destroy the health of our children, cripple our economy, to weaken our national security, there would be no better strategy than to addict us to ultra-processed foods," he said.
The new guidance comes in stark contrast to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s report released in the final days of President Joe Biden's term, which garnered criticism over a lack of directives on ultra-processed foods.
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Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-admins-new-nutrition-guidelines-target-ultra-processed-foods-ease-up-red-meat-saturated-fats