(P15-03-26) Do Americans Trust the Dietary Guidelines Process? Results of a National Survey

Objectives: The 2025-2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines (DG) process was a departure from prior years with the final guidelines disregarding a number of recommendations made by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC). The objective of this study was to explore American perceptions of trust in the DG process.

Methods: Cross-sectional, nationally representative survey of English-speaking U.S. adults ( > 18 years) administered in November 2025 through NORC’s AmeriSpeak Omnibus panel.  Respondents were asked a series of questions about their thoughts on the dietary guidelines process and where they get information from. Survey data were weighted to produce national representative estimates. Population-weighted percentages are presented.

Results: Among the (n=1,090) respondents to the survey, 27% said they had heard at least a moderate amount about the DG’s in the prior year. When asked to give the one source that they trust for information about what is healthy to eat, 50% of respondents said their doctor/healthcare provider, 20% said family and friends, 23% other online sources and only 5% said governmental guidance. After reading an explanation of how the DG process works, 38% agreed that the new DG’s will be based on the best scientific evidence, 22% disagreed, and 40% abstained. About half (49%) agreed that they would trust the Scientific Report of the DGAC, with trust rates higher among the college educated subgroup (63%) and higher income subgroup (61%) vs. lowest categories of these demographics (40% and 37%). However, only 26% felt that the final DG’s would be based on the best scientific evidence. When presented with a hypothetical scenario in which the final report disregarded the DGAC recommendation to increase consumption of beans, peas, and lentils and reduce red meat consumption, 45% of respondents said they would trust the DG’s less, 16% said they would trust the DG’s more, and 39% said their trust would not change.

Conclusions: Considerable variation exists among different subgroups in America related to trust in the DG’s and the DG process, with education, income, and age influencing trust in the process. Findings suggest that transparency and alignment between the scientific report and the final guidelines may be critical for Americans to trust the DG’s.

Funding Sources: Silicon Valley Community Foundation