DAIRY FARMERS OF AMERICA WELCOMES NEW DIETARY GUIDELINES AFFIRMING DAIRY’S ROLE IN A HEALTHY DIET
- New Dietary Guidelines reaffirm dairy’s essential role in a healthy diet, recommending three servings daily for all age groups.
- Full-fat dairy options recognized as part of balanced eating patterns, alongside low-fat and fat-free choices.
- Guidelines will shape federal nutrition programs, improving access to nutrient-rich dairy for millions of Americans.
Kansas City, Kan. (Jan. 7, 2026) — Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a leading global dairy cooperative owned by family farmers, welcomes today’s release of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, which reaffirms dairy’s essential role in nourishing families and supporting health across all life stages.
The updated guidelines emphasize whole, nutrient-dense foods and recommend three servings of dairy each day, including full-fat options with no added sugars. This marks an important recognition of the science showing that dairy foods — milk, cheese, and yogurt — deliver high-quality protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals that are critical for growth and wellness.
“These guidelines reflect decades of research and common sense: dairy belongs at the center of a healthy diet,” said Jenny Hofeditz, DFA’s Senior Vice President, Marketing, Public Relations, and Brand Strategy. “We’re proud of our farmer-owners who work every day to provide safe, nutritious dairy products that help families thrive.”
Key Highlights for Dairy:
- Full-fat dairy affirmed: The guidelines move beyond previous recommendations that limited dairy to low fat or fat-free options, acknowledging the benefits of dairy at all fat levels
- Focus on real food: The guidance calls for reducing highly processed foods and added sugars while prioritizing protein, dairy, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and whole grains
- Impact on programs: These recommendations will shape federal nutrition programs, including school meals and WIC, ensuring greater access to nutrient-rich dairy for millions of Americans.
DFA has long advocated for science-based nutrition policy, including support for legislation like the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which passed Congress last year. Today’s guidelines represent a significant step forward in aligning federal nutrition standards with modern research and consumer choice.
Dairy Farmers of America
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is a farmer-owned, leading global dairy cooperative focusing on sustainability, innovation, community, and the future of family dairies. While supporting and serving 9,500 farmer-owners, DFA manufactures nearly every form, function, and flavor of high-quality nutritional dairy products, including fluid milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, dairy ingredients, and more. These products connect our Cooperative’s family farms to family tables with national and regional brands, such as Alta Dena® Dairy, Meadow Gold® Dairy, Friendly’s®, Borden® Cheese, Plugrà® Premium Butter, and Kemps®, to name a few. On a global scale, we work with some of the world’s leading food companies to develop ingredients that deliver the greatest source of nutrition to consumers around the world, while staying committed to social responsibility and ethical farming. For more information, visit dfamilk.com.