{"id":263507,"date":"2026-01-29T10:39:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T10:39:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/263507\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T10:39:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T10:39:24","slug":"zooming-into-science-policy-and-ideology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/263507\/","title":{"rendered":"Zooming into science, policy and ideology"},"content":{"rendered":"

The new 2025\u20132030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans promote a food-first approach while recognizing the role of supplements, which dsm-firmenich<\/a> tells Nutrition Insight it supports. At the same time, the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and a nutrition expert warn of ideological undertones and a lack of transparency in the guidance-making process.<\/p>\n

Molecular biologist and nutritionist Marion Nestle informs us that the guidance on saturated fat has been the same for a long time: \u201cNo more than 10% of calories.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe science on that has not changed. These guidelines recommend eating more animal food sources of saturated fat. If followed, these would make it difficult to stay below 10%.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health emerita at New York University, US, also points out that the guidelines call for eating protein at levels already typically consumed. \u201cHowever, Americans eat roughly twice the amount of protein required for basic function.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nestle adds that the guidelines blur the definition of processed foods. Under the Nova system, foods are classified by industrial formulation and additives, not by nutrient fortification alone. \u201cFoods with added nutrients alone would not be considered ultra-processed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe guidelines use the term \u2018highly processed\u2019 for foods that contain added sugars, salt, and flavor, color, and texture additives.\u201d However, they do not clearly define what constitutes highly processed foods.<\/p>\n

Ideological undertones to the guidelines cannot be dismissed. Nestle says the central dogma is to separate from anything to do with the former US president Joe Biden\u2019s era \u2014 \u201cespecially equity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Biden-era guidelines committee prioritized plant-based sources of protein, while these guidelines favor animal-based sources. This is a matter of ideology, not science.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nutrition Insight previously explored the sexist and classist myths associated with meat-heavy diets, along with their historical roots amid the\u00a0rise of carnivore diets.<\/a><\/p>\n

Lack of transparency covers scientific evidence<\/p>\n

Critics have argued the final guidelines\u00a0diverge sharply from the 2025 advisory committee\u2019s recommendations,<\/a> raising concerns about industry influence and transparency.<\/p>\n

\"saturatedMarion Nestle critiques the new US Dietary Guidelines, questioning the guidance on saturated fat and protein sources.Sarah Ohlhorst, M.S., R.D., chief science policy officer at the ASN, tells us that the 2025 Dietary Guidelines\u2019 scientific review process lacks transparency.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe established Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) scientific review process exists to ensure that dietary guidance decisions are transparent, based on the strength of the best available science, and non-biased. It uses a clearly defined methodology, a carefully vetted panel of experts, opportunities for public input, and well-documented evidence reviews.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDeparting from this established approach risks undermining confidence in the evidence that supports the guidelines and contributes to confusion regarding dietary guidance, ultimately undermining trust in nutrition science,\u201d she stresses.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, she notes that nutrition science is highly nuanced and complex. Consequently,\u00a0oversimplifying dietary guidance risks can warp the evidence to promote foods or behaviors that science overall does not support.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen guidance appears inconsistent with established evidence or introduces contradictory messaging, it can confuse consumers and reduce trust and confidence in nutrition science,\u201d adds Ohlhorst.<\/p>\n

Supplements retain recognition<\/p>\n

Sonia Hartunian-Sowa, head of Translational Science and Advocacy at dsm-firmenich, North America, tells Nutrition Insight she welcomes the guidelines\u2019 food-first approach, which is essential for long-term health and well-being. They also recognize the use of dietary supplements and fortified foods when dietary intake alone does not meet nutritional requirements.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"vitaminsSonia Hartunian-Sowa of dsm-firmenich highlights the role of supplements, including omega-3s, in filling nutrient gaps across the US population.She says the guidance supports what dsm-firmenich and the scientific community are advocating: dietary supplements can help fill nutrient gaps and improve public health outcomes across all demographics.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, nutrient gaps remain a worldwide issue, affecting individuals of all income levels in countries around the world, including high-income nations like the US. In fact, many Americans fall short on the recommended intakes of key nutrients. Women are most affected, with 1 in 3 women in the US having at least one micronutrient deficiency,\u201d Hartunian-Sowa details.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She also points to research showing that vitamin D, found only in select foods, is at insufficient levels globally. Experts therefore advise supplementation to support health outcomes, especially for people with poor sun exposure.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSimilarly, omega-3 intake is low across much of the population<\/a>, including the US, where individuals consume far less eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) than recommended for optimal heart and brain health. The US ranks among the lowest<\/a> omega-3 index levels at 2.7%.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese persistent nutrient gaps are influenced by dietary preferences, limited access to nutrient-dense foods, lifestyle patterns, and varying nutritional needs across different life stages. The guidelines\u2019 acknowledgment of dietary supplements reflects this reality,\u201d she elaborates.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The\u00a02020\u20132025 guidelines\u00a0<\/a>also recognized that fortified foods and dietary supplements can be helpful when it is otherwise difficult to meet nutrient needs, such as during specific life stages.<\/p>\n

Hartunian-Sowa points to vitamin D, iodine, iron, vitamin B12, potassium, and omega-3 fatty acids as nutrients commonly underconsumed.<\/p>\n

\"SoniaSonia Hartunian-Sowa, head of Translational Science and Advocacy at dsm-firmenich.\u201cVitamin D, for example, is present in relatively few foods and status is largely dependent on sunlight exposure, which can vary significantly by geography, season, and lifestyle. Iron and vitamin B12 intake may be challenging for older adults and for those who consume limited amounts of animal-sourced foods, while iodine intake can vary depending on food choices and fortification practices,\u201d she details.<\/p>\n

Omega-3 in spotlight\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hartunian-Sowa points out omega-3s\u2019 proven benefits for heart, brain, eye, and immune health. DHA is especially crucial for brain development in early life and cognitive function in healthy aging. At the same time, recent research suggests DHA may help slow the aging process at the molecular level.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cLow omega-3 intake is not limited to individuals who follow exclusively plant-based diets and is observed across the general population, including in those who consume fish infrequently.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the original source of marine omega-3s, microalgae provide a direct, plant-based source of DHA and EPA that is suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets, while also appealing to consumers seeking environmentally responsible supplements,\u201d she underscores.<\/p>\n

Life stage nutrient requirements<\/p>\n

Different life stages require different nutrients, making supplements essential. For example, Hartunian-Sow highlights that pregnancy requires additional iron, iodine, folate, and DHA, which may not be obtained solely through diet.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost pregnant women in the US have omega-3 intakes below<\/a> recommended levels, creating an opportunity for sustainable, algal-based DHA supplements that can effectively bridge this nutritional gap while supporting environmental stewardship.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWomen who have low fish intakes benefit from high-dose DHA supplementation during pregnancy (600\u20131000mg) to reduce their risk of preterm birth, which is difficult to obtain from diet alone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

She points to dsm-firmenich\u2019s algal-based life\u2019sDHA and life\u2019sOmega supplements as sustainable alternatives to marine-sourced omega-3s and health support for mothers and babies.<\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, while improved dietary patterns are essential, supplementation and fortification remain valuable tools for helping individuals meet nutritional needs across different stages of life \u2014 particularly for nutrients that are difficult to obtain reliably through food alone,\u201d stresses Hartunian-Sowa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The new 2025\u20132030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans promote a food-first approach while recognizing the role of supplements, which…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":263508,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[163,138236,85,46,7193,543,16893,138237],"class_list":["post-263507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-health","tag-healthy-diets","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-meat","tag-nutrition","tag-saturated-fat","tag-us-dietary-guidelines"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=263507"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263507\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/263508"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=263507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=263507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=263507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}