The U.S. government recently updated its set of Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a change that has been largely welcomed by seafood companies and representative groups across the country.
Released on 7 January by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the new 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which advise Americans on healthy eating habits, represent “the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in our nation’s history” and encourage Americans to “eat real food” by calling for a push away from processed foods “laden with refined carbohydrates, added sugars, excess sodium, unhealthy fats, and chemical additives.”
“For decades, the Dietary Guidelines favored corporate interests over common-sense, science-driven advice to improve the health of Americans. That ends today,“ HHS said in a release. “The new guidelines call for prioritizing high-quality protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains – and avoiding highly processed foods and refined carbohydrates.”
While previous federal dietary guidelines have “demonized protein” in favor of carbohydrates, according to the HHS, the new guidelines “reflect gold-standard science by prioritizing high-quality, nutrient-dense protein foods in every meal.”
As part of its updated advice, the guidelines have recognized seafood as a whole-food source of key nutrients and encourage Americans to prioritize omega-3 fatty acids.
According to the new guidance, Americans should aim for at least three or more servings of seafood per week but should potentially aim to include more servings based on individual caloric requirements for protein.
The guidelines noted that Americans fall extremely short in consuming seafood, only hitting an average of about 110 milligrams per day of the omega-3s EPA and DHA that seafood offers compared to the recommended 500 milligrams per day.
Notably, the DGA also said that, for pregnant women, protein, choline, vitamin B12, and omega-3 DHA, all of which seafood offers, are vital for fetal brain development.
As a result of the updated advice, the guidelines are likely to impact the amount of seafood that schools and federal nutrition programs purchase as they “are the foundation to dozens of federal feeding programs,” HHS said.
“Today marks the first step in making sure school meals, military and veteran meals, and other child and adult nutrition programs promote affordable, whole, healthy, nutrient-dense foods,” HHS said.
Groups like the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) lauded the new guidance, with NFI President and CEO Linda Wallenda Picard saying that seafood naturally fits within the overarching theme of eating “real food.”
“All forms of whole seafood – including fresh, frozen, and canned – count and work together to make a healthy diet affordable and accessible to American families,” she said.
Wallenda Picard also highlighted that the new food pyramid graphic outlined in the guidelines features a variety of seafood options Americans should prioritize, including salmon, shrimp, and canned tuna. Additionally, she praised the guidelines’ user-friendly format, which aims to deliver concise messaging that can help Americans understand the benefits of eating a seafood-rich diet.
“The new guidelines recommend early introduction of seafood at 6 months and ongoing consumption across the lifespan. Seafood is especially important during rapid growth periods like adolescence, pregnancy, and breastfeeding,” she said.
Similarly, the Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) said the new guidelines reflect “robust scientific evidence about the significant health benefits of fish and shellfish.”
“Seafood is a powerhouse of nutrients that support brain, heart, and overall wellness,” SNP Founder and President Linda Cornish said. “Emphasizing seafood in our dietary guidance helps families and individuals make choices that contribute to long-term well-being.”
“We applaud the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030 for developing seafood consumption recommendations for children starting at 6 months of age. Seafood is an important food in healthy dietary patterns for kids and adults throughout their lifespan,” SNP Scientific Nutritional Advisory Council Director Tom Brenna added.
Other groups like the Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) and the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) were also excited by the new guidance.
“We are grateful to Secretary [of Agriculture Brooke] Rollins and Secretary Kennedy for these clear, concise recommendations centered around “eating more real food,’” GAPP Chairman Jim Johnson said. “There is no more ‘real food’ than wild-caught Alaska Pollock, and we look forward to continuing to connect consumers to this nutritious, delicious, and versatile whitefish as they look to meet these new recommendations for healthful eating.”
"With protein taking a more central role in the American diet, shrimp stands out as a lean, versatile option – one that fits not only evolving nutrition guidance but also broader conversations around sustainable food systems," the SSP said.
Though many groups praised the updated federal advice, some organizations and dietitians criticized certain components.
While the guidelines maintain “longstanding limits on saturated fat and sodium and emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole foods, and water consumption,” the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) said in a release that there is “harmful guidance to emphasize animal protein, butter, and full-fat dairy, guidance that undermines both the saturated fat limit and the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s science-based advice to emphasize plant-based proteins to reduce cardiovascular disease risk.”
Sarah Kim, owner of SkimWellness, a private dietitian practice in Pasadena, California, U.S.A., told SeafoodSource that the new guidelines are largely positive but that there are several contradictions that may confuse Americans.
“It says we should be minimizing saturated fat intake but pushes red meat and butter, so it’s confusing for the consumer,” Kim noted.
“While the meat and dairy industries may be excited about the new food pyramid, the American public should not be; the guidance on protein and fats in this DGA is, at best, confusing, and, at worst, harmful to the one in four Americans who are directly impacted by the DGA through federal nutrition programs,” CSPI explained, adding that the document also spreads blatant misinformation that “healthy fats” include butter and beef tallow.
However, seafood is not high in saturated fat and is a good source of omega-3s, “so it is a really great way to incorporate healthy fats into your diet regularly,” Kim said.
