USDA Launches Dietary Guidelines Education Partnerships

USDA Press Releases

Published March 4th, 2026

Detected March 14th, 2026

Summary

The USDA announced new partnerships to educate the public on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and highlighted an impending rule for SNAP retailers regarding stocking standards. The agency also signed four new SNAP restriction waivers for Kansas, Nevada, Ohio, and Wyoming.

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What changed

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services, has launched new strategic partnerships aimed at educating the public about the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This initiative encourages private sector participation in promoting healthier eating habits. Additionally, the USDA announced an impending final rule that will impose higher minimum stocking standards for staple foods on retailers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Four new SNAP restriction waivers were also signed for Kansas, Nevada, Ohio, and Wyoming, which aim to limit the purchase of highly processed foods with SNAP benefits.

Retailers accepting SNAP benefits will need to prepare for new stocking requirements, though specific details and implementation timelines for the impending rule are not yet provided. Companies interested in becoming educational partners should contact DietaryGuidelines@usda.gov. The waivers signed for the four states are effective immediately, impacting the types of products that can be purchased with SNAP benefits in those locations. While no direct penalties are mentioned for the partnerships, the impending stocking standards rule implies potential consequences for non-compliance for SNAP-authorized retailers.

What to do next

Review the impending SNAP stocking standards final rule once published.
Contact DietaryGuidelines@usda.gov for information on becoming an educational partner.
Ensure compliance with new SNAP restriction waivers in Kansas, Nevada, Ohio, and Wyoming.

Source document (simplified)

Press Release

USDA Announces New Partnerships to Advance MAHA Agenda

Published:

March 4, 2026

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(Washington, D.C., March 4, 2026) – Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, joined by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy. Jr., and National Nutrition Advisor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Dr. Ben Carson announced the USDA's commencement of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Strategic Partnerships, an effort which encourages the private sector to participate in educating the American people about the importance of the Guidelines and how they serve as the foundation to better eating. Additionally, today’s event featured an update on the impending Stocking Standards final rule, a rule that holds any retailer interested in accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits accountable to a higher minimum standard of staple food stocking requirements. And lastly, Secretary Rollins was proud to sign four new SNAP restriction waivers for Kansas, Nevada, Ohio, and Wyoming.

“The Make America Healthy Again movement has brought together the private sector, including retailers, the medical community, farmers, rancher, producers, and the media to play a key role in encouraging healthier families and healthier communities,” said Secretary Rollins. “Today’s announcement not only invites the private sector to educate on the importance of the DGAs, but also adds four new States to SNAP restriction waivers, and highlights the impending rule that will increase the number of real food options retailers must carry. Real food is the foundation of healthier families and healthier communities.”

“If retailers take taxpayer dollars, they must put real food on their shelves,” said Secretary Kennedy. “SNAP exists to nourish vulnerable Americans—not bankroll the products driving our chronic disease crisis. Today, we are putting nutrition back at the center of SNAP and giving millions of families greater access to real food.”

"As National Nutrition Advisor to the Department of Agriculture, I commend Secretary Rollins’ work to Make America Healthy Again," said Dr. Carson. "For over 12 years, minimum stocking standards in retailers have been debated. This impending rule is practical, doable, and will provide families with new, more healthful choices no matter where they shop. Complementing this are four new restriction waivers, making certain highly processed junk food is not eligible for purchase with taxpayer-funded SNAP benefits."

Interested in being a strategic partner? Please contact the team at DietaryGuidelines@usda.gov for more information.

Press Release Release No.: 0039.26