American Lamb Takes Center Stage in New U.S. Dietary Guidelines
American Lamb is poised to play a starring role in how Americans eat over the next five years. The newly released 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shift the nation’s focus toward whole, nutrient-dense foods—with a strong emphasis on prioritizing nutrient dense protein including red meat.
That’s exactly where American Lamb shines.
The new guidelines, presented in an inverted pyramid model, prioritize “real food”—naturally occurring, nutrient-dense foods—and call for more protein, fruits, and vegetables, while sharply limiting highly processed foods.
Prioritize Protein & Healthy Fats: A Natural Fit for American Lamb
The government’s website, realfood.gov, makes it clear: protein is back at the center of the plate. “We are ending the war on protein. Every meal must prioritize high-quality, nutrient-dense protein from both animal and plant sources, paired with healthy fats from whole foods such as eggs, seafood, meats, full-fat dairy, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocados.”
For millions of Americans, American Lamb is an ideal way to meet these new targets. The site recommends a daily protein intake of 0.54–0.73 grams per pound of body weight. For a 175-pound individual, that’s about 95–128 grams of protein per day. Just one 3-oz serving of American Lamb delivers 23 grams of high-quality protein, along with essential nutrients, making it a powerful “real food” choice for anyone looking to boost protein intake.
A 3 oz. serving of American Lamb also contains 40% heart-healthy fat. This monounsaturated fat is the same “good fat” found in olive oil and avocados.
American Lamb: A Big Opportunity in the New Guidelines
“The new guidelines reinforce what we’ve known all along: high-quality protein from locally raised American Lamb is a powerful part of a healthy diet—nourishing our bodies while supporting our farmers, our land, and our communities,” says ALB Chairman Jeff Ebert.
For sheep producers, this is a pivotal moment. As consumers look to add more protein to their diets, American Lamb offers exactly what the guidelines call for: nutrient-dense, minimally processed, flavorful protein, heart-healthy fats raised here at home. American Lamb helps Americans meet their protein goals while bringing variety and a fresh flavor profile to weekly menus.
Last week’s announcement also highlighted a renewed commitment to aligning the food system with American farmers and ranchers and to incorporating more “real,” unprocessed foods into the American diet. (https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf) American Lamb—raised on U.S. soil by U.S. producers—embodies this vision.
Be a Voice for American Lamb
As a producer of American Lamb, you are uniquely positioned to demonstrate how our product aligns with the new recommendations. When talking about the guidelines and the benefits of including American Lamb in diets, emphasize that:
• The guidelines prioritize high-quality, nutrient-dense protein foods as part of a healthy dietary pattern. American Lamb is a protein-packed nutrition powerhouse that delivers both taste and nourishment.
• The guidelines recommend consuming a variety of protein foods. Adding American Lamb can enhance nutritional intake while bringing diversity and exciting flavor to the menu.
• The guidelines encourage choosing meats with no or limited added sugars, refined carbohydrates or starches, or chemical additives. Fresh American Lamb naturally meets these expectations, and the American Lamb website offers easy-to-follow recipes that help consumers turn ground lamb and lamb cuts into flavorful, wholesome, real-food meals.
Now is the time to elevate American Lamb’s story. By talking with customers, retailers, chefs, and your communities about American Lamb’s nutrition, quality, versatility, and ease of preparation—and by directing people to recipes and resources—you can help Americans see how American Lamb belongs at the center of a healthy, real-food diet.
Your voice can inspire more Americans to choose American Lamb regularly, supporting their health while strengthening U.S. farmers and ranchers.