MAHA's Sugar Crash: Revamped U.S. Dietary Guidelines Get Harder for Beverages
Recommendations Target Non-Nutritive Sweeteners and Added Sugar
January 14, 2026
The US government just released new Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), updating previous recommendations issued in 2020. The guidelines, backed by the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association, offer recommendations on how Americans should eat. Federal and local governments use the guidelines to shape everything from school nutrition programs to SNAP benefits. The guidelines also influence food industry strategy, healthcare advice, and nutrition education. For the first time, the DGA has said “no amount of added sugars or non-nutritive sweeteners is recommended or considered part of a healthy or nutritious diet.” Analysis.