Physicians committee sues US government over 2025-2030 dietary guidelines
The lawsuit challenges the federal agencies’ process for developing the latest dietary recommendations, alleging undisclosed industry influence and violations of federal advisory committee rules.
USA – The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has sued the US government over the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, alleging that the recommendations were influenced by food-industry interests.
The Washington-based physicians’ group claims the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) when developing the guidelines.
The guidelines, released in January under the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, encouraged Americans to reduce their consumption of highly processed foods and added sugars. However, the recommendations also attracted criticism over their emphasis on protein, dairy and healthy fats.
The Physicians Committee alleges that the agencies departed from the formal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) process and instead relied on a nine-member panel whose membership was disclosed only when the guidelines were released.
According to the lawsuit, eight of the nine panel members had connections to organisations including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Dairy Council, American Egg Board, National Pork Board and the low-carbohydrate diet industry.
Physicians Committee President Neal Barnard criticised the process, saying: “The government allowed the meat and dairy industries to ghostwrite the Dietary Guidelines. They put money in industry’s pocket and cholesterol in Americans’ arteries.”
The group had petitioned HHS and USDA in January to withdraw the guidelines, alleging “unlawful industry influence”.
The lawsuit also challenges the agencies’ decision to depart from recommendations issued in December 2024 by the 20-member DGAC. The committee had recommended greater emphasis on plant-based meals, including beans and other plant proteins, while advising consumers to choose water rather than milk.
The guidelines have also faced criticism from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which said advice promoting animal protein, butter and full-fat dairy was at best, confusing, and, at worst, harmful.
The Physicians Committee is asking the court to withdraw the current dietary guidelines and prevent HHS and USDA from relying on them in future decisions until a new version is developed.
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