WASHINGTON - New federal dietary guidelines released in January are triggering backlash from U.S. wheat growers after the government sharply reduced recommended grain consumption and advised Americans to avoid refined grains entirely. The guidance, issued by the Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture, matters for farmers because wheat demand, planted acreage, and per-capita consumption have already been declining for decades.

The updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans for 2025-2030 recommend that consumers eat just two to four servings of grains per day, all of which should be whole grains. That represents a major shift from the previous guidelines issued in 2020, which advised Americans to eat six daily servings of grains, with at least half coming from whole grain products.

The new guidance also urges consumers to "significantly reduce" refined carbohydrates, including foods such as white bread, flour tortillas, crackers, and many packaged breakfast products. The change aligns with a broader public health effort to reduce consumption of highly processed and ultra-processed foods. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. framed the updated guidelines as an effort to reverse what he called a "war on protein," encouraging higher consumption of meat and dairy. But for many farmers, the shift in messaging feels like the start of what some describe as a "war on wheat."

Industry leaders say the new messaging - especially the visual food pyramid accompanying the guidelines - risks discouraging consumers from purchasing wheat products. "We are a bit frustrated with how the communication came out on the dietary guidelines," said Sam Kieffer, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG).

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Kieffer said many consumers will not read the full guidelines and will instead rely on simplified graphics. In the new pyramid, grain products appear in one of the smallest portions, which he worries could reinforce the perception that foods like bread should be avoided. "People will see the pyramid and think they should avoid white bread," he said. "There's no reason to avoid white bread. It is healthy. It is economical."

The frustration comes as wheat farmers are already facing a long-term decline in domestic demand. According to USDA data, per-capita wheat consumption in the United States fell from nearly 147 pounds per person in 1997 to less than 129 pounds in 2024. At the same time, U.S. wheat plantings dropped from more than 70 million acres in the mid-1990s to under 46 million acres today, reflecting both dietary shifts and competition from other crops such as corn and soybeans. Idaho farmer Jamie Kress, president of NAWG, said many producers believe both refined and whole grain products have a place in a balanced diet.

"It is a little disheartening when grain products are not prioritized," Kress said. "We know the nutrition and safety of what we grow, and there is a place for refined grains like white flour and sandwich bread." Nutrition experts, however, broadly support the shift toward whole grains and fewer refined carbohydrates.

Frank Hu, chair of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said the updated guidelines "move in the right direction" by encouraging Americans to reduce added sugars and refined grains while limiting highly processed foods. Still, Hu noted the guidelines could send mixed signals by maintaining the recommendation that saturated fats remain below 10% of daily calories while simultaneously encouraging higher consumption of meat and dairy.

Another challenge for policymakers is that Americans have historically struggled to adopt whole grain diets. Despite decades of public health campaigns, most Americans consume less than one serving of whole grains per day, according to the Grain Foods Foundation. Erin Ball, executive director of the organization, said research suggests enriched grain products can help make whole grains more palatable, particularly for children.

That distinction is important for federal nutrition programs such as school meals, which are required to follow dietary guidelines. Schools currently must ensure that at least half of the grains served are whole grains, though the USDA is now reviewing those standards to align with the new recommendations.

For farmers, the broader concern is that continued declines in wheat demand could pressure commodity markets. Walter Schweitzer, president of the Montana Farmers Union, warned that weak demand could lead to oversupply.

"Every extra bushel grown now is just an extra bushel of surplus," he said. "Without having markets for our grains, we're getting more and more surpluses, and that's what affects prices." Still, some producers say they are taking a long-term view. Kansas wheat grower Chris Tanner, who also raises cattle, said agriculture benefits from maintaining balance across food systems. "Personally, a balanced diet is a healthy diet," Tanner said. "When people go to the grocery store, they buy what they want to feed their family - not necessarily what the government recommends."