The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) released the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The report affirms dairy products’ central role in federal nutrition recommendations, recommends Americans consume three servings of dairy each day, and recommends the consumption of whole and full-fat dairy products such as whole milk, yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products.

“These Guidelines return us to the basics,” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said. “American households must prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods — protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains—and dramatically reduce highly processed foods. This is how we Make America Healthy Again.”

“At long last, we are realigning our food system to support American farmers, ranchers, and companies that grow and produce real food. Farmers and ranchers are at the forefront of the solution, and that means more protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains on American dinner tables," added Brooke Rollins, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary. 

“The new Dietary Guidelines send a clear and powerful message to Americans: dairy foods belong at the center of a healthy diet,” stated Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA (International Dairy Foods Association). “IDFA applauds HHS and USDA for grounding the 2025–2030 DGA in today’s nutrition science, including the evidence showing that dairy products at all fat levels support healthy eating patterns. Recommending the consumption of whole and full-fat dairy products such as whole milk, yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products is an important victory for consumer choice and public health. Americans can now enjoy the wholesome dairy foods that work for their cultural, dietary and lifestyle preferences knowing that they are benefitting from dairy’s unique nutrient profile. IDFA encourages the administration to update federal nutrition programs tied to the DGA to ensure Americans can access whole, full-fat, and reduced-fat dairy products through these programs.”

Dairy foods—milk, cheese, yogurt, and other products—are a cornerstone of healthy dietary patterns, delivering 13 essential nutrients, with the DGA highlighting dairy’s high-quality protein, healthy fat, vitamins and minerals. IDFA has for many years highlighted that scientific evidence does not support previous DGA recommendations to limit dairy food consumption to low-fat or fat-free products. Nutrition science has evolved to show the benefits of whole and full-fat dairy foods, including less weight gain, neutral or lower risk of heart disease, and lower risk of childhood obesity. The new DGA reflect this growing body of research, providing Americans greater flexibility to choose dairy foods that meet their needs.

“The DGA also highlight dairy’s central role as a protein source alongside healthy meats, eggs, seafood, and other protein foods,” said Dykes. “These DGAs encourage Americans to look no further than wholesome dairy products like milk, yogurt, dairy powders, cheese, and other dairy foods when adding healthy protein that work best for themselves, their families and their unique situations.” 

Dykes also cautioned that the DGA’s reference to “highly processed foods” could create unnecessary confusion among consumers and policymakers because there is no official or scientific consensus on what that term means. “Many nutritious, safe, and essential foods—including milk, yogurt, and cheese—undergo processing to ensure quality, safety, and accessibility,” he said. “Establishing dietary guidance around an undefined or inconsistently applied term risks discouraging consumption of nutrient-rich foods that are vital to public health. As we noted in recent comments to federal agencies, any move toward defining or classifying foods by processing level is premature and should be informed by rigorous, consensus-based science.”

“IDFA looks forward to continued collaboration with HHS and USDA to ensure the new DGA recommendations regarding dairy at all fat levels are reflected in federal nutrition programs like school meals, WIC, and SNAP dairy incentives. We also remain committed to partnering with these agencies to ensure future dietary recommendations reflect the best available science and support increased dairy consumption, contributing to healthier outcomes for all Americans,” said Dykes.

The National Milk Producers Federation issued the following statement: “NMPF thanks HHS and USDA for recognizing dairy’s critical role in a healthy diet in the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, as shown by its continued recommendation of three servings of dairy for Americans, its recognition of dairy’s benefits at all fat levels, and dairy’s prominence in diverse diets. We are proud to benefit American health in fundamental ways, and we welcome the potential these guidelines hold for expanding upon dairy’s critical role in the diet.
 
 “As also shown in the scientific report that preceded today’s guidelines, reducing or eliminating dairy from the diet leads to undernourishment in key nutrients for millions of Americans. These guidelines encourage consumption of dairy nutrients critical to human health. Meanwhile, not all fats are created equal, and because the guidelines acknowledge this, dairy’s benefits are better reflected in this iteration of the guidelines.
 
 “Now that the guidelines are out, the federal government will begin applying them across federal programs. We look forward to working with the entire nutrition community to ensure that dairy is best used to generate positive health outcomes for families across America.”

"For decades, Lifeway has championed what these Guidelines now affirm: that real, minimally processed foods with protein, healthy fats and fermentation are foundational to human health," added Julie Smolyansky, president and CEO of Lifeway Foods. "Seeing kefir recognized for gut health validates our mission and reinforces why fermented dairy like Lifeway Kefir and Lifeway Farmer Cheese belongs at the center of the American diet."

"As the Guidelines make clear, improving health starts with what we put on our plates," Smolyansky continued. "Lifeway will continue to lead by making healthy eating easier to understand and helping guide America back to real food."