The Trump Administration's New Food Guide: A Climate Concern?

The Trump administration has recently introduced a new food guide, suggesting that Americans should eat more protein. The guide features a colorful, upside-down pyramid with a big red steak, a piece of cheese, and a carton of whole milk at the top. The administration claims this is "ending the war on protein."

A Shift from Past Advice

This is a significant departure from previous recommendations, which advised eating less red meat and whole milk for health reasons and to reduce pollution from beef and dairy industries.

Environmental Concerns

The US stopped using the food pyramid as an official guide in 2011. Many Americans do not follow federal nutritional recommendations. However, if people start following this new guide, it could lead to more pollution, exacerbating climate change.

Protein Intake and Environmental Impact

The guide suggests consuming 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. Currently, Americans eat about 1.0 to 1.3 grams per day. Increased protein consumption could require up to 100 million acres of extra farmland annually, roughly the size of California. This could result in hundreds of millions of tons of additional carbon dioxide emissions.

Source Matters

The environmental impact varies by protein source. Cows and similar animals are more concerning than chicken or plant-based proteins. Meat production requires more land for raising animals and growing feed. Cows also release methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Recent Trends and Regulations

Americans have been eating more chicken, while beef consumption has remained stable over the past decade. The Trump administration is also rolling back greenhouse gas pollution regulations, dismissing climate change efforts as a "green scam."

Ignored Recommendations

Some scientists and advocates argue that the Trump administration ignored recommendations from a previous scientific panel. An unaltered version of the new guidelines would have advised eating more beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, and soy products, while consuming less red and processed meat.

Guidelines Update and Industry Ties

The guidelines are updated every five years. The Trump administration rejected more than half of the recommendations from the federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) for 2024. Several panelists involved in crafting this year's guidelines have financial ties to the beef and dairy industries.