The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s “Scientific Report” highlights the critical importance of incorporating fruits and vegetables into a healthy, dietary pattern for Americans across the lifespan — but it proposes a reduction of starchy vegetables in the diet.
“We deeply appreciate the scientific advisory committee’s tireless work and are pleased to see that the DGAC’s report highlights the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy dietary pattern for all Americans but are concerned by the proposed reduction in starchy vegetables, which contribute key nutrients for various populations at different life stages when prepared with minimal or no added sugars, sodium, or saturated fat,” Mollie Van Lieu, International Fresh Produce Association vice president for nutrition and health, said in a news release. “At a time when Americans are not meeting recommendations for fruits and vegetables, it is critical that the 2025-2030 [Dietary Guidelines for Americans] strengthen recommendations for consumption of nutrient-dense foods like fruits and vegetables.”
Based on nationally representative consumption data, only 1 in 10 U.S. residents meet the daily dietary recommendations for fruits and vegetables, according to IFPA. Furthermore, 6 in 10 Americans have at least one chronic condition, and 4 in 10 have two or more, many of which are nutrition-related.
“Reversing the nation’s diet-related diseases demands a systemic approach targeted at increasing Americans’ consumption of fruits and vegetables and our members at IFPA are passionate about closing the produce consumption gap,” Van Lieu said. “Through advocacy and consumer engagement, we remain committed to supporting the implementation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and driving increased fruit and vegetable consumption.”
Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said the committee’s report is evidence-based and grounded in a systematic and transparent process.
“The committee’s advice would strengthen the Dietary Guidelines by emphasizing consumption of fruits, vegetables, plant-based proteins and whole grains, while limiting red or processed meat, refined grains, and foods high in saturated fat, sodium and added sugar,” Lurie said. “The Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services should follow the DGAC’s evidence-based recommendation to maintain current recommended limits on saturated fat, added sugar and sodium, despite inevitable opposition from the food industry.”
Next steps
The “Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee,” alongside public comments and federal agency input, will inform the two departments as they develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030, which is expected to be published in late 2025, according to a news release from the agencies.
HHS and USDA will open a 60-day public comment period and encourage the public to provide written comments on the committee’s “Scientific Report.” The departments will also hold a public meeting Jan. 16, 2025, to listen to oral comments from the public on the report. Pre-registration is required for the public meeting. More information on the public meeting and comment period is available on DietaryGuidelines.gov.
The “Scientific Report” is the result of a multiyear process that reflects HHS and USDA’s commitment to transparency, the agencies said. In 2022 HHS and USDA invited members of the public to submit comments on the proposed scientific questions to be examined by the committee. In addition, all members of the committee were nominated by the public.
Live and recorded access to each of the committee’s seven public meetings has been available online via videocast, and HHS and USDA encouraged the public to submit written and oral comments to the committee for more than 18 months throughout the committee’s deliberative process. The committee received approximately 9,900 public comments, more than any other prior committee, which were used to inform its evidence review and the development of its Scientific Report, the agencies said in the release.
