"We’re feeding kids foods that increase their risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. That’s not just unethical—it’s criminal."
— Dr. Kim Williams, former president of the American College of Cardiology, on the USDA’s continued promotion of meat and dairy in school meals.

In a rare show of medical unity, hundreds of doctors and healthcare professionals are raising their voices against the USDA, calling out the meat industry's stranglehold on America’s official nutrition policy. They say the very guidelines meant to protect public health are quietly being shaped by powerful corporate interests—and they want it to stop.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) are updated every five years. They inform school lunches, military rations, federal food programs, hospital menus, and public health messaging nationwide. But a growing chorus of physicians and public health advocates is sounding the alarm: the process behind these guidelines is not just broken, it is corrupt.

A Coalition of Conscience

Over 300 doctors and health professionals recently signed a joint letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), demanding more transparency in the development of the 2025-2030 guidelines. They asked the agencies to delay finalizing the report until systemic problems with the advisory process are addressed.

Among the concerns: corporate conflicts of interest. In 2020, an analysis revealed that 95% of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) members had financial ties to big food and pharmaceutical companies, including those in the meat and dairy sectors. This creates a clear conflict, say critics, who argue that these relationships directly undermine the integrity of public health recommendations.