The new 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), which has been roundly lauded by seafood organizations, could add millions of dollars in U.S. government seafood purchases and billions of dollars in additional annual retail and foodservice seafood sales.
The guidelines, released 7 January, state that most Americans fall extremely short in consuming seafood, only hitting an average of about 110 milligrams per day of the omega-3s that seafood offers compared to the recommended 500 milligrams per day.
To ensure Americans are able to better meet their nutritional needs, U.S. officials have directed government institutions and nutrition programs to purchase more whole foods, including seafood.
For instance, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is releasing new guidance to regional directors of children nutrition programs, instructing them to “consider how these guidelines will be incorporated into healthy meals and snacks permanently,” USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said at a 11 February press briefing covering the new DGA.
Efforts to update child nutrition programs will include rulemaking and education, Rollins said, adding that her agency will have a proposed school meals plan ready by mid-spring.
These efforts mark a continuation of attempts to improve the eating habits of children in the U.S. made under the banner of U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) strategy, including ensuring greater access to various seafood products.
“The American diet has shifted dramatically toward highly processed foods, leading to nutrient depletion, increased caloric intake, and exposure to potentially harmful or unhealthy additives,” a September 2025 HHS strategy report said when the department released its updated Make Our Children Healthy Again strategy.
Besides school meal programs, Rollins also said changes are coming down the pipeline for the nation’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). New “stocking standards” under the DGA mean that 250,000 retailers that accept SNAP electronic benefits transfer (EBT) dollars will have to more than double the healthy food offerings on their shelves, she said.
Elsewhere, the U.S. Army has completely transformed its foodservice program and commissary offerings to feature more nutrient-dense and whole foods, Army Undersecretary Mike Obadal said during the press briefing.
With the help of input from celebrity chef Robert Irvine, the Army switched from its traditional dining facility “that led our soldiers to rely on low-nutrient” foods to concession-style dining with multiple food formats and later hours of operation.
Healthy meals such as power bowls were added at U.S. Army bases around the world, Obadal said, and officials are seeing “marked increased in lean proteins and complex carbohydrates.”
At its commissaries, the Army has prioritized buying local whole foods and increasing access to “fresh American seafood and produce,” according to Obadal.
The U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has also grown more attentive to nutrition, health, and wellness standards within the nation’s federal prison system and across other relevant agencies, BOP Director William K. Marshall III said.
The country’s prison population often arrives with significant disparities in health status, according to Marshall, and “nutrition is one of the few environmental factors we can control.” Independent studies show that serving whole foods reduces violence and aggressive behavior among prisoners, Marshall also noted.
In addition to the government, U.S. retail and foodservice could see a big shift in consumer behavior thanks to the new DGA.
The guidelines upped the recommended number of seafood servings Americans should eat per week from two to three. Adding one more seafood meal weekly translates to approximately a 10 percent hike in annual seafood sales at retail, or USD 1.6 billion (EUR 1.3 billion) annually, according to the Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP).
“The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that consumers eat three or more servings of seafood per week, recognizing the strong science behind the public health benefits of eating more seafood. This is a significant nutrition policy win and is a great opportunity for the seafood industry to share this update with their internal teams, customers, and partners,” SNP President Linda Cornish told SeafoodSource.
By aligning education programs, marketing, and menu strategies with the new DGA, the seafood industry can “help close America’s seafood nutrition gap and support brain health, heart health, and overall wellness,” Cornish said.
As for foodservice operations, celebrity chef Andrew Gruel said at the 11 February press briefing that the new DGA acts as a “north star” for both chefs and consumers, “getting us back in the kitchen and renewing our relationship with food.”
Seafood companies around the globe, including in Chile and Ecuador, have stated that the new DGA provides them with a significant opportunity to increase shipments to the U.S.
“These [HHS] guidelines confirm that salmon is a complete, nutritious food that is easy to incorporate into the daily diet, thanks to its contribution of high-quality proteins and healthy fats such as omega-3,” SalmonChile President Arturo Clément said, highlighting that Chile’s quality and reliable production of salmon makes it a healthy option for families in the U.S. looking to incorporate new government recommendations.
“As consumers look for practical ways to meet these higher protein targets [outlined in the DGA], the type of protein on the plate is equally important. Shrimp, the most popular seafood consumed in the U.S., offers a familiar, accessible, and responsible option that fits well within this shift,” the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership added.
