NEW YORK CITY, New York: With the new school year around the corner, the Trump administration is preparing to release updated U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans as early as this month, two sources familiar with the process told Reuters.

The guidelines, which influence everything from school lunches to doctor nutrition advice, are typically updated every five years by the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Though the Biden administration began drafting the latest update, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said last month that the Trump administration is now aiming to finalize and release it by August.

One source said the accelerated timeline is aimed at impacting meals served during the upcoming academic year. However, for many schools, it may already be too late to adjust food procurement. "Meeting mandatory changes to the nutrition standards or meal pattern would be extremely difficult given these procurement issues," said Diane Pratt-Heavner, spokesperson for the School Nutrition Association. However, she noted that the administration could offer flexibility, such as allowing whole milk, which is currently prohibited under existing school meal rules.

According to sources, the upcoming guidelines are expected to address saturated fats—primarily found in meat and certain oils—and ultra-processed foods, though no final decisions have been made. One source said alcohol consumption guidelines are likely to remain unchanged.

A separate industry source said dairy guidance may also shift. While current guidelines emphasize low- and non-fat dairy products, the new version may include whole-fat dairy options.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins declined to confirm specific changes. "We're looking at everything right now. I don't want to make news today, but you'll be hearing a lot more on this in the coming weeks," she said at a press conference Tuesday, adding that she hoped to release the full guidelines within one to two months.

Kennedy said the final document would be four pages long and emphasize eating "whole food." Last month, a report commissioned by Kennedy criticized the current dietary framework, claiming it was influenced by the meat and sugar industries and calling for a shift toward minimally processed food.

The current guidelines recommend limiting saturated fat intake to less than 10 percent of daily calories and making no mention of ultra-processed foods, a category whose definition remains contested by the food industry.

These guidelines shape school meals and public health messaging and impact programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Medical professionals also rely on them when advising patients.

Despite the government's goal to issue the update quickly, schools may struggle to implement changes before the fall term begins. "Most school districts placed orders for fall 2025 menus at the beginning of the year," Pratt-Heavner said.