Lawsuit over US dietary guidelines

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the Trump administration regarding the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The lawsuit follows the January 2026 introduction of the guidelines by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. The plaintiffs allege that the administration violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act by conducting a “procedural bait and switch.” They claim the government bypassed a transparent, two-year scientific review conducted by an independent committee—which had recommended prioritizing plant-based proteins and water consumption—in favor of a “secret panel” of industry representatives with potential conflicts of interest.

The new guidelines emphasize animal proteins, whole dairy, and fats while de-emphasizing plant-based sources and whole grains. Dr. Neil Barnard, president of the PCRM, stated that the government allowed the meat and dairy industries to “secretly write the dietary guidelines,” prioritizing industry profits over public health. The legal action seeks to have the current recommendations withdrawn and to prevent their future use, requesting a new process that adheres to federal transparency and evidence-based requirements.