Washington, DC — Climate and environmental advocates are raising serious concerns that the Trump administration’s newly released Dietary Guidelines for Americans promote meat- and dairy-heavy diets while failing to acknowledge their well-documented role in climate change, Amazon deforestation, and global land-use impacts.
Animal agriculture — particularly cattle production — is a leading driver of methane emissions, forest loss, and biodiversity decline worldwide. Cattle ranching is widely recognized as the primary cause of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, especially in Brazil, the world’s largest beef producer. The United States remains one of the world’s largest consumers and importers of beef, exerting significant influence on global supply chains.
“These guidelines miss a critical opportunity to align U.S. food policy with climate reality,” said Jane DeMarines, Founder and Executive Director of Climate Diet. “Dietary guidelines are not neutral. They shape markets, global land use, and environmental outcomes. When the U.S. promotes higher meat and dairy consumption, it accelerates deforestation in places like the Amazon and deepens the global climate crisis.”
Large-scale cattle production has also been directly linked to the displacement of Indigenous peoples across the Amazon basin. Environmental and human rights organizations have documented how forest clearing for cattle grazing and livestock feed crops undermines Indigenous land rights, destroys biodiversity, and weakens one of the planet’s most critical carbon sinks.
Critics say the new guidelines stand in stark contrast to climate science, which consistently calls for reduced consumption of animal-based foods as a necessary step to meet emissions reduction targets, protect remaining forests, and safeguard food security.
“Protecting the climate requires rethinking what we put on our plates,” DeMarines added.
Background: Why Meat, Dairy, and the Amazon Are Connected
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Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of beef, supplying global markets, including the United States.
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Cattle ranching is the primary driver of Amazon deforestation, according to international climate and conservation authorities.
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Forest clearing for grazing and livestock feed destroys one of the planet’s most important carbon sinks.
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Indigenous communities are frequently displaced or threatened as forests are cleared for agricultural expansion.
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U.S. dietary guidelines influence school meals, federal food programs, and consumer norms, shaping global demand for meat and dairy.
About Climate Diet
Climate Diet is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about the connections between food choices, climate stability, environmental justice, and global ecosystems.
Media Contact:
Jane DeMarines, Founder & Executive Director
Climate Diet
📧 demarines@climatediet.org
📞 202-997-8785
🌐 www.climatediet.org
