ICYMI: Smucker Applauds New Dietary Guidelines for Americans to Improve Health

Image January 12, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON – On Thursday, Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), co-chair of the Congressional Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Caucus, joined Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Kennedy to announce the release of the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), which focuses on a simple message: eat real food – a diet consisting of whole foods, including protein-rich foods,  fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. Smucker previously urged HHS to incorporate critical evidence-based updates to the DGA, several of which are reflected in the new guidelines, in a letter sent to Secretary Kennedy on September 29, 2025 and co-signed by other members of the MAHA Caucus. “Our country is facing a diet-related chronic disease crisis. The updated DGA put forth by Secretary Kennedy and this administration affirm the science we know: better nutrition leads to better health. A diet consisting of real, whole foods improves metabolic health, prevents disease, and promises Americans a healthier future,” said Rep. Smucker. The letter reads: “Research has consistently demonstrated that whole, minimally processed foods should be prioritized as the foundation of healthy dietary patterns.” … “We urge you to build on this progress by ensuring the 2025 DGA address the role of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in Americans’ diets and specifically recommend reducing the amount of highly processed foods in the diet.” … “Rather than promoting a one-size-fits-all approach, the DGA should encourage inclusion of flexible, evidence-based options that better serve diverse metabolic and dietary needs, such as a low-carbohydrate dietary option. Photos: Image Image Image Issues : Agriculture Health Care