Updated dietary guidelines showcase critical role of fruits and vegetables
Updated dietary guidelines showcase critical role of fruits and vegetables
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture released the 2025–30 Dietary Guidelines for Americans on Jan. 7. The International Fresh Produce Association said it appreciated the continued recognition of fruits and vegetables as central to healthy dietary patterns and the focus on reversing diet-related chronic disease.
“Today’s Dietary Guidelines reinforce the critical role fruits and vegetables play in overall health,” said IFPA Vice President of Nutrition and Health Mollie Van Lieu. “Scientific evidence consistently shows that fruits and vegetables should make up the majority of what people eat. The administration’s focus on whole foods is an opportunity to increase fruit and vegetable intake, as they are the most nutrient-dense foods available.”
The 2025–30 Dietary Guidelines for Americans reaffirm fruits and vegetables as a foundation of healthy eating, calling for Americans to consume a variety of colorful, nutrient-dense produce throughout the day as part of a diet centered on “real, whole foods.” The Guidelines recommend three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruits per day for a 2,000-calorie dietary pattern and clearly distinguish naturally occurring sugars in whole fruits from added sugars. IFPA also welcomes the Guidelines’ focus on reducing added sugars and highly processed foods that displace healthier options like fruits and vegetables.
“The Dietary Guidelines are a framework for a host of federal nutrition programs. We will continue working to ensure a wide variety of fruits and vegetables are available in these programs and that the 2025–30 Guidelines drive meaningful increases in fruit and vegetable consumption for all consumers,” Van Lieu said.
IFPA was actively involved throughout the DGA development process, submitting multiple rounds of written comments, providing oral testimony, and nominating members to serve on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are influential because they shape how food is distributed and promoted across major federal programs, including school nutrition programs like school breakfast and school lunch, the food package for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, military feeding programs and more.
