New trump administration food guidelines create “ecological disaster” with meat-heavy diet recommendations

The Trump administration’s updated dietary guidelines have sparked fierce criticism from environmental and health experts who warn the new recommendations could significantly worsen America’s climate impact. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently unveiled an inverted food pyramid that dramatically increases emphasis on meat, dairy, and animal fats while minimizing whole grains—a stark departure from previous guidelines.

The new “Make America Healthy Again” dietary framework encourages Americans to consume more protein and cook with butter and beef tallow, despite the government maintaining that saturated fat should comprise no more than 10% of daily calories. Critics point out this creates a fundamental contradiction between the promoted foods and the actual nutritional guidance. Adding to concerns, four of the nine expert panel members who consulted on the guidelines have documented ties to meat and dairy industry groups.

Former Obama nutrition advisor Sam Kass calls the new pyramid an “ecological disaster,” emphasizing that livestock production is the leading driver of food system emissions globally. “There is simply no way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions enough to reach Paris climate agreement targets without also lowering emissions from the food system,” experts warn. Beef production remains the world’s top cause of deforestation and land use change.

While some aspects of the “eat real food” message—like avoiding ultra-processed foods—receive support from nutritionists, environmental advocates argue the administration is promoting consumption of the most climate-damaging food sources. For consumers seeking to reduce their environmental impact, experts recommend the most effective action remains simple: eat less meat and explore plant-based protein alternatives like beans and legumes.