Nutritionists Weigh in on US Dietary Guidelines

The two-year review of U.S. dietary guidelines is up (link below). The panel punted on alcohol, processed foods, and calorie intake. While it is business as usual ("eat more veggies, less saturated fat, less sugar"), and the next panel isn’t supposed to report until 2030, government involvement in dietary guidelines may be about to get a lot more exciting if Robert Kennedy Jr. gets in. He has already questioned industry ties to the panel members and government committees that issue the guidelines.

The guidelines matter more than you might think, as they impact food labeling laws, advertising restrictions, product formulation, FDA and USDA regulations, and all military, prison, school, and federal food purchases, as well as supplemental nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC. That’s why food companies spend millions. Food industry lobbying on government dietary recommendations and policy alone amounts to around $220 million a year.

Nutritionists Weigh in on US Dietary Guidelines

Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

DEA, HHS Issue Third Extension of Pandemic Telehealth Prescribing Flexibilities

Unable to hit deadlines on recommendations for telehealth prescribing, the HHS and DEA extended the 2020 "COVID rules," which were set to expire in a few days, until the end of 2025. This marks the third extension as regulators and the industry wrestle with issues surrounding telehealth, prescribing, and safety. The DEA had originally considered proposing additional regulatory oversight on telehealth prescribing, but when their draft rule was leaked last year, they backed off under heavy political pressure.

DEA, HHS Issue Third Extension of Pandemic Telehealth Prescribing Flexibilities