A new survey from the International Food Information Council (IFIC) shows strong early awareness of the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and highlights that protein remains one of the most practical and prioritized elements of a healthy diet for consumers.

Fielded Jan. 20–27, 2026, just weeks after the release of the updated Guidelines and the new Food Pyramid graphic, the survey offers an early look at how Americans are interpreting federal nutrition recommendations. Nearly half of respondents (47%) say they have already heard about the new Guidelines, and an equal share report seeing the redesigned Food Pyramid.

IFIC President and CEO Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, said the findings capture a “rare and important moment” as first impressions take shape. “The speed at which Americans have heard about the new Dietary Guidelines is remarkable,” she noted, adding that awareness must be paired with understanding and trust.

Consumers see protein as practical path to healthier eating

For the meat and poultry sector, one of the most notable findings is consumers’ confidence in protein as a realistic dietary improvement. Sixty-three percent of American surveyed say eating more protein makes a diet healthier. Protein ranks among the easiest changes people feel they can maintain consistently.

This aligns with long-standing consumption patterns and reinforces the central role of animal protein in everyday eating habits. While fruits and vegetables remain the top priority for improving diet quality (27% say increasing produce intake would make the biggest difference), protein continues to be viewed as accessible, satisfying and beneficial.

At the same time, 63% of consumers believe healthier eating costs more, underscoring an ongoing challenge for all food sectors — including meat — to communicate value, affordability, and nutrient density.

Confusion around dietary messaging and emerging trends

The new Food Pyramid’s inverted design appears to be causing some confusion. More than one-third of Americans (36%) believe the graphic recommends eating more of the foods at the top, while 11% interpret the opposite. This signals a need for clearer communication as the industry adapts to the updated federal framework.

The survey also highlights uncertainty around trending fats such as beef tallow. Nearly half of Americans (48%) say they are neutral or lack enough information to determine whether beef tallow is a healthy fat. For processors and marketers, this reflects both an opportunity and a challenge: consumers are curious, but not yet confident, about traditional fats reentering the nutrition conversation.

Trust in the science behind the guidelines

While 61% of Americans say they are at least somewhat familiar with the Dietary Guidelines, confidence in the science behind them varies widely. This mixed sentiment reinforces the importance of transparent, evidence-based communication from all sectors of the food industry — including meat and poultry — as consumers navigate evolving nutrition narratives.

Source: International Food Information Council