Discussion focuses on Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs) and their connection to sweeteners, particularly in the context of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs).
Importance of defining terms:
- Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs):
- Defined by Harvard Medical publication as:
> "Ultra-processed foods are made mostly from substances extracted from foods, such as fats, starches, added sugars, and hydrogenated fats."
- Often contain additives like artificial colors, flavors, and stabilizers.
- Examples: Frozen meals, soft drinks, hot dogs, cold cuts, fast food, packaged cookies, cakes, and salty snacks.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs)
Revised every 5 years.
The latest version (2025) was made public on January 7, 2026, after a delay due to government shutdowns.
Notable changes include:
- Inverted Food Pyramid:
- Grains at the bottom, similar to historical guidance but with a new message.
- Reflects a shift in dietary recommendations.
2025 DGA Rollout
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) introduced a new website, realfood.gov, emphasizing engagement over bland data presentation.
Marked a departure from traditionally accepted dietary guidance by challenging long-standing beliefs.
Notable design element: Change of tone from ominous to more optimistic as users scroll down, marked by the inverted pyramid's introduction.
The Role of the DGAC
Traditionally, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) consists of nutrition experts who evaluate research and recommend dietary guidelines.
For the 2025 DGAs:
- There was an intentional distancing from some DGAC recommendations.
- A second group of experts was consulted due to skepticism from DHHS and USDA regarding some DGAC findings.
- The Scientific Foundation for the DGAs included a table that notes which DGAC recommendations were incorporated into the final DGA.
Example of incorporated recommendations:
- From the DGAC: "Continue to limit foods high in added sugars, including sweetened beverages and foods".
- Not incorporated: "Include more nutrient-dense plant-based meal and dietary recommendation options".
The Role of the Secretaries
The Scientific Foundation report reflects greater political commentary compared to past editions, highlighting concerns from different administration approaches (Biden vs. Trump).
Suggested listening: 2020 DGA executive summaries for context and comparison to 2025.