Did Big Meat Hijack America’s Diet Guidelines? Why These Doctors Are Suing the Government.

A group of doctors is suing the US government for allegedly allowing the meat, dairy, egg, and low-carb industries to influence the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The new guidelines prioritize protein and animal-based foods, including eggs, poultry, full-fat dairy, seafood, and red meat, putting plant-based foods in a secondary role. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) argues that the government ignored advice from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) in favor of a secret panel with ties to the meat, dairy, and fad diet industries, violating federal law.

PCRM research suggests that most Americans are not following the new dietary guidelines, with only 18 percent changing their diets based on the recommendations. The nonprofit is calling for the guidelines to be withdrawn and new ones developed in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This lawsuit is not the first challenge from PCRM, as previous challenges in 2000, 2010, 2015, and 2020 have resulted in federal courts ruling in favor of the organization, citing violations of laws related to advisory committee appointments.