A behind-the-scenes look at crafting RFK’s new dietary guidelines

Isabella Cueto covers the leading causes of death and disability: chronic diseases. Her focus includes autoimmune conditions and diseases of the lungs, kidneys, liver (and more). She writes about intriguing research, the promises and pitfalls of treatment, and what can be done about the burden of disease. You can reach Isabella on Signal at isabellacueto.03.

WASHINGTON — In early May, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had good news for the President: updated dietary guidelines, which were due at the end of 2025, would be delivered ahead of schedule. 

“We are working very, very fast together. We’re going to get it done by the end of the summer in time to drive change — major, dramatic changes — in the school food,” he said during the livestreamed meeting with other Cabinet officials. The secretary had already promised to give the nation new diet advice free from industry influence and conflicts of interest — a serious problem with the previous guidance, he said.

He broke both vows, delivering guidelines on Jan. 7, and enlisting researchers with numerous financial relationships to industry groups and companies. STAT, which broke news of some of the industry ties last week, has learned of further entanglements among the researchers, along with behind-the-scenes details about a time-pressured, improvisatory process that even one panelist called “a little outrageous.”