RFK Jr. to unveil new guidance encouraging more saturated fats
(NewsNation) — U.S. dietary guidelines could soon undergo another overhaul under the Trump administration's "Make America Healthy Again" initiative, and the proposal has already drawn criticism.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to unveil new guidance encouraging the consumption of more foods previously considered unhealthy, including those high in saturated fats.
Kennedy has argued that Americans need more trans and saturated fats, not less, saying foods like butter, cheese, milk and red meat have been unfairly demonized for decades. The updated guidance could be released as soon as this month.
"New dietary guidelines that are common sense, that stress the need to eat saturated fats of dairy, of good meat, of fresh meat and vegetables ... when we release those, it will give everybody the rationale for driving it into our schools," Kennedy said.
More saturated fats will make Americans less healthy, experts argue
Kennedy has long argued that refined carbohydrates and ultraprocessed foods are the main culprits of an unhealthy diet and that they have largely been ignored in conversations surrounding obesity and inflammation.
Currently, U.S. dietary guidelines, which are updated every five years, suggest Americans limit saturated fats to 10% of their daily calorie intake. However, the American Heart Association advises keeping that intake under 6%.
Kennedy's shift from the decades-long consensus has already generated concern from some medical professionals, who argue that the science is clear: more saturated fats will make Americans less healthy.
"We consume too much added sugars, we consume too much saturated fat," said Eve Stoody, U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition guidance and analysis division director. "We have a large nutrition problem, and I think it needs action across multiple fronts."
The American Heart Association has warned that saturated fats raise so-called "bad" cholesterol levels and are linked to an increased risk of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the U.S.