California Walnut Commission Applauds Emphasis on Nuts in New Dietary Guidelines for Americans; Robert Verloop and Rachel Blaine Comment

FOLSOM, CA - There is good news for walnuts in the newly released 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs), which emphasize “real”, nutrient-dense foods — including nuts — as the foundation of a healthy diet.

The DGAs recognize nuts as a source of plant-based protein and emphasize consumption of healthy fats found in whole foods across multiple age groups and life-stages, and the accompanying report features walnuts on their list of “rich sources of [omega-3] ALA.” In addition, for the first time, walnuts are clearly represented in the new food pyramid.

Further, within a 2,000-calorie diet, the DGAs recommend one ounce of nuts or seeds and two tablespoons of nut or seed butter as part of the three to four daily servings of protein foods. The DGAs also recommend introducing potentially allergenic foods —including nut butters—with other complementary foods to infants at about 6 months.

“This marks an important step in gaining broader recognition that walnuts, as a healthy and real food, should be part of our daily lifestyle,” said Robert Verloop, CEO of the California Walnut Commission (CWC), in the recent release. “It also is a testament to the 30 years of investment in sound, scientific health and nutrition research by the California walnut industry.”

While the new DGAs were under development, the CWC leveraged the over 240 published research studies to submit comments and provide evidence showcasing how walnuts can be included in healthy dietary patterns. The CWC continues to support new research in areas such as gut health, sleep and cognitive function, alongside continued investment in heart and metabolic health.

“Through CWC’s Global Health Research Program, we’re fueling science that speaks to health and wellness, and supporting researchers exploring the topics that truly matter to consumers,” said Rachel Blaine, CWC scientific advisor. “By advancing evidence in these areas, we’re showcasing how walnuts can power overall well-being and inspire people everywhere to make walnuts a delicious part of their daily routine.”

The DGAs also highlight a broader commitment to American agriculture. “We are realigning our food system to support American farmers, ranchers and companies who grow and produce real food,” according to the DGAs.