In a move that has ignited a firestorm of debate among nutritionists and the public, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. introduced a dramatically revised set of dietary guidelines on Wednesday, headlined by a new, inverted food pyramid.
A Pyramid Turned on Its Head
The new visual guide, unveiled at the White House with other Trump administration officials present, flips the traditional model. It places fruits, vegetables, protein sources, dairy, and healthy fats at its broad base for prioritization, while whole grains are minimized at the narrow top. This marks the first new food pyramid from the U.S. Department of Agriculture since the original was updated to "MyPyramid" in 2005 and later replaced by the "MyPlate" model.
Secretary Kennedy, a figure known for promoting conspiracy theories, notably commented on the "upside down" appearance of the graphic displayed behind him. He declared the administration was "ending the war on saturated fats," despite the guidelines maintaining the long-standing advice to limit saturated fat intake to 10% of daily calories.
Expert Backlash and Health Concerns
The redesign has been met with immediate criticism from leading nutrition experts. Christopher Gardner, a nutrition scientist at Stanford University, told NPR he was "very disappointed" to see red meat and saturated fat sources positioned "at the very top, as if that's something to prioritize."
"It does go against decades and decades of evidence and research," Gardner stated. This sentiment aligns with warnings from major health bodies like the American Heart Association, which advises limiting saturated fats due to their link to increased heart disease risk.
Social Media Erupts in Mockery and Disbelief
Beyond expert circles, the new pyramid faced widespread ridicule online. Critics on social media platforms like Bluesky mocked its design and implications.
Reactions from users included:
- @SavageLucy42: Quoting a TV show, they wrote, "It's a reverse funnel system."
- @blueheronfarm.bsky.social: "This dumb motherfucker doesn't even know how a pyramid works. Wide part on the bottom, son."
- @jesspish.bsky.social: Asked pointedly, "did a rancher write this food pyramid?"
- @jessicacalarco.com: Expressed health fears, noting, "So, if the viruses don't get us, the heart disease will."
Other comments ranged from sarcastic pledges to eat "an entire rotisserie chicken every meal" to critiques of the confusing graphic design, with one user calling it "the worst graphic design for showing portions I've ever seen." The controversial nutrition controversy underscores the deep divisions in public health messaging and sets the stage for continued debate over evidence-based dietary advice.
