PAN International Advocates for Daily Legumes and a 300g Weekly Meat Cap in US Nutrition Guidelines

As part of PAN International’s commitment to advancing public health through nutrition, we have formally submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in response to the Advisory Committee’s 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

This is a key moment as HHS reviews the Committee’s comprehensive report, which highlights the benefits of reducing red meat consumption and increasing plant-based foods and protein sources.

Co-authored with ProVeg International, our letter acknowledges the Committee’s science-based, plant-forward recommendations and its focus on food equity. However, we see opportunities for further strengthening the guidelines through:

• Encouraging a higher intake of nutrient-dense, affordable legumes to enhance dietary quality.

• Recommending a further reduction in animal-based protein servings to support both health and environmental sustainability.

• Placing greater emphasis on sustainability, aligning with global food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs).

With nearly 7,000 public comments submitted, HHS and USDA now undertake a critical review process. It is encouraging to see broad support for plant-based nutrition, but continued advocacy remains essential.

Read our full letter here.

Together, we can help shape dietary guidelines that promote both human and planetary health.