Fifth meeting of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee held
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
- The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee held its fifth meeting on May 29-30, 2024. The Committee is tasked with reviewing current nutrition science and producing a scientific report with independent, science-based advice for HHS and USDA to consider as they develop the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
- The Dietary Guidelines will be developed through a five-step process that begins with identifying a scientific question. Then, a committee will be appointed to review the scientific evidence, and finally, HHS and USDA will develop and implement the guidelines. The scientific questions for 2025-2030 include the relationship between dietary patterns, including the effects of ultra-processed foods, and specific health conditions and life stages; specific dietary pattern elements such as added sugars and saturated fats; and strategies for diet quality and weight management. Two priority topics not included in the list of questions to be considered are alcoholic beverages and sustainability. HHS will lead a separate review of alcoholic beverages, which requires significant expertise. HHS and USDA will address the complex relationship between nutrition and climate change separately from the committee process.
- The committee is appointed every five years and is made up of 20 members who “examine the relationship between diet and health at all life stages” from a health equity perspective. The fifth committee meeting featured presentations from each subcommittee and deliberations by the full committee. In particular, the committee discussed the role of dairy products, given that approximately 36% of people in the United States are lactose intolerant. Slides and video recordings of the presentations will be posted on the Dietary Guidelines website as soon as they are ready, but posting may take up to one month.
- The committee’s final meeting is scheduled for September 25-26, 2024. The committee is expected to release its scientific report in late 2024, and the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are expected to be released in 2025. Keller and Heckman will continue to monitor and share updates on the development process.
