On January 7, the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) were released, and suddenly my feed was filled with hot takes, headlines, and conflicting interpretations.

Rather than add to the noise, I wanted to take time to read and analyze the current DGAs compared to previous versions. I thought it would be more helpful to share a grounded breakdown of what these guidelines actually say and offer some professional context on how I view them.

As someone who teaches Contemporary Diet & Nutrition at Purdue Global University — which includes an entire unit on the DGAs — I’ve spent significant time reviewing both the science and policy behind these recommendations. Let me start by say the DGAs have never been perfect and they never will be. The goal should always be to evolve with science and keep an open-mind, what works for one will never work for all. This DGA is no exception, it has real positives and real negatives. Let’s dive in!