WASHINGTON, January 7, 2026—The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) today released the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The report affirms dairy products’ central role in federal nutrition recommendations, recommends Americans consume three servings of dairy each day, and recommends the consumption of whole and full-fat dairy products such as whole milk, yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products.
“The new Dietary Guidelines send a clear and powerful message to Americans: dairy foods belong at the center of a healthy diet,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA. “IDFA applauds HHS and USDA for grounding the 2025–2030 DGA in today’s nutrition science, including the evidence showing that dairy products at all fat levels support healthy eating patterns. Recommending the consumption of whole and full-fat dairy products such as whole milk, yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products is an important victory for consumer choice and public health. Americans can now enjoy the wholesome dairy foods that work for their cultural, dietary and lifestyle preferences knowing that they are benefitting from dairy’s unique nutrient profile. IDFA encourages the administration to update federal nutrition programs tied to the DGA to ensure Americans can access whole, full-fat, and reduced-fat dairy products through these programs.”
Dairy foods—milk, cheese, yogurt, and other products—are a cornerstone of healthy dietary patterns, delivering 13 essential nutrients, with the DGA highlighting dairy’s high-quality protein, healthy fat, vitamins and minerals. IDFA has for many years highlighted that scientific evidence does not support previous DGA recommendations to limit dairy food consumption to low-fat or fat-free products. Nutrition science has evolved to show the benefits of whole and full-fat dairy foods, including less weight gain, neutral or lower risk of heart disease, and lower risk of childhood obesity. The new DGA reflect this growing body of research, providing Americans greater flexibility to choose dairy foods that meet their needs.
“The DGA also highlight dairy’s central role as a protein source alongside healthy meats, eggs, seafood, and other protein foods,” said Dykes. “These DGAs encourage Americans to look no further than wholesome dairy products like milk, yogurt, dairy powders, cheese, and other dairy foods when adding healthy protein that work best for themselves, their families and their unique situations.”
Dykes also cautioned that the DGA’s reference to “highly processed foods” could create unnecessary confusion among consumers and policymakers because there is no official or scientific consensus on what that term means. “Many nutritious, safe, and essential foods—including milk, yogurt, and cheese—undergo processing to ensure quality, safety, and accessibility,” he said. “Establishing dietary guidance around an undefined or inconsistently applied term risks discouraging consumption of nutrient-rich foods that are vital to public health. As we noted in recent comments to federal agencies, any move toward defining or classifying foods by processing level is premature and should be informed by rigorous, consensus-based science.”
“IDFA looks forward to continued collaboration with HHS and USDA to ensure the new DGA recommendations regarding dairy at all fat levels are reflected in federal nutrition programs like school meals, WIC, and SNAP dairy incentives. We also remain committed to partnering with these agencies to ensure future dietary recommendations reflect the best available science and support increased dairy consumption, contributing to healthier outcomes for all Americans,” said Dykes.
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Contact: press@idfa.org
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3 million jobs that generate $198 billion in direct wages and $779 billion in overall economic impact. IDFA’s diverse membership ranges from multinational organizations to single-plant companies, from dairy companies and cooperatives to food retailers and suppliers, all on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainable business practices. Together, they represent most of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world. Delicious, safe and nutritious, dairy foods offer unparalleled health and consumer benefits to people of all ages.