Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has declared an end to the "war on protein."
The announcement was posted to the White House’s X account on Jan. 11 alongside a dimly lit portrait of Kennedy and a link to the federal government’s new Dietary Guidelines, which prioritize protein, dairy and healthy fats.
"Today the lies stop," Kennedy said on Jan. 7. "Protein and healthy fats are essential and were wrongly discouraged in prior dietary guidelines."
But food experts say there isn’t a war on protein. Protein consumption in the United States is reaching record highs, and Americans already eat more protein than they need.
In fact, protein has "never been a negative" in prior guidelines, according to Marion Nestle, professor emerita of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University and former Health and Human Services senior nutrition policy advisor.
