The new US nutrition guidelines emphasize high-impact animal products such as meat, milk, and eggs, which could require millions of acres of new farmland to be clear-cut and used for farming. This will have negative effects on the environment, contributing to deforestation, climate change, and pollution from animal agriculture.

The guidelines conflict with the advice of most health experts, who recommend eating less animal products and more plant-based foods for better health outcomes. The emphasis on animal products in the guidelines has raised concerns about the impact on the environment and the sustainability of the food system. The US, with its high consumption of animal products per capita, may face additional pressure on ecosystems if the guidelines are followed by even a modest number of people.